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MANILA, Philippines - What do you get when you have some of the best players of a generation face off against each other? Last June 8, we found out—the Master Game Face All Star Basketball Challenge.

Assembled at the FilOil Flying V Arena, a talent pool that includes nine NCAA teams and eight UAAP teams came together for perhaps the most talent-laden collegiate basketball game this summer. UAAP and NCAA players played on the same team, with new superstars like Green Archer Jeron Teng, Blue Eagle Kiefer Ravena, and UST Tiger Kevin Ferrer playing alongside each other on Team Chris. In the end though, Team Borgie prevailed, 89-88.

After more than five thousand of votes casted Team Chris had a starting lineup of Kiefer Ravena (ADMU), Juami Tiongson (ADMU), Jeron Teng (DLSU), Aljon Mariano (UST) and Karim Abdul (UST). Team Borgie started with San Beda players Baser Amer, Ola Adeogun and Rome De La Rosa, who was joined by Parks and UP’s Andrei Paras.

Bannered by two time UAAP MVP and NU player Ray Ray Parks, Team Borgie went on a late run with Parks scoring six of his side’s last 11 points. “It’s basketball, it’s competitive. We really wanted to win. It’s a good thing we stepped up,” said Parks in the post-game interview.  

Having been behind for most of the game, Team Borgie rallied back in the second half with a stellar performance by RR Garcia. In the decisive seconds of the fourth quarter, Garcia stole the ball from reigning Rookie of the Year Jeron Teng, and found Parks for a lay-up.

For more than five weeks, fans voted for their favorite collegiate players through Master’s Facebook Page to form the All-Star teams divided by the FilOil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup’s pools. Former San Beda Lion and NLEX Road Warrior coached Group A while former Ateneo Blue Eagle and current Rain or Shine Flasto Painter, coached Group B.

“It was my first time to coach, and I’m glad we won,” said Hermida, who has won several titles with the San Beda Red Lions.
“Coaching all these superstars is a joy and a great honor,” said Tiu. At games end, Kiefer Ravena garnered the most Twitter votes to win the Greenwich Favorite Ng Barkada Award, while Garcia got MVP honors for scoring a game-high 22 points. The first ever Master Game Face All- Star Basketball Challenge was also highlighted by a half time performance by award-winning Filipino artist, Bamboo.