Pinoys watch NBA in style - SPORTING CHANCE by Joaquin M. Henson

PORTLAND, Oregon – They were treated to the best seats in the house and four teenaged high school players from Letran watched in style as the Portland Trail Blazers trounced the Toronto Raptors, 95-88, in a National Basketball Association (NBA) game at the Rose Garden here Wednesday night.

RonJay Enrile, Billy Ray Anabo, Boyet Bautista and Ira Buyco were guests in Nike head Phil Knight’s two-row, 12-seat VIP box in Suite 36. A lady bartender attended to the visitors. Popcorn and soft drinks were on the house for the Squires.

How appropriate that a Knight took care of the Squires whose US tour is sponsored by Nike. Letran’s seniors are called the Knights and the juniors, the Squires.

Letran’s media center head Fr. Jose Sibug, Nike Philippines Sports Marketing Manager Auty Villarama, and Nike Philippines Sports Marketing Coordinator Relly San Agustin were also in Knight’s suite.

It was a game the boys will never forget even as Raptors star Vince Carter failed to suit up because of a strained left quadricep tendon. Also sitting out were Portland’s Arvydas Sabonis and Toronto’s Charles Oakley and Muggsy Bogues.

Toronto took an early 15-12 lead but the Blazers roared back to tie it, 19-all, at the end of the first quarter. Then, the hosts bolted to a 35-23 lead on Rasheed Wallace’s three-point play, capping a 16-4 burst to start the second period. But coach Lenny Wilkens wasn’t finished.

After Wallace and Toronto’s Antonio Davis traded technicals, Raptors guard Alvin Williams scored to push Toronto on top, 55-52. That lit a fire under Blazers quarterback Damon Stoudamire who triggered a 10-2 surge as the Blazers took a 68-60 lead into the final period. Toronto never recovered.

The Raptors trimmed the deficit to four with less than two minutes to go. Williams, Mark Jackson, and Del Curry combined for 21 points in the fourth quarter to keep Toronto alive but Wallace was unstoppable down the stretch. Wallace hit seven straight points to bail out the Blazers.

Without Oakley, Toronto was badly mauled inside the lane. The Blazers scored 20 second chance points, compared to Toronto’s 12, and hit 54 points in the paint to the Raptors’ 24. The Raptors threw away 17 points to Portland’s eight off turnovers.

Portland played an up-and-down style that produced 13 fastbreak points – Toronto had none. Five Blazers – Wallace, Scottie Pippen, Bonzi Wells, Stacey Augmon, and Erick Barkely – showed up wearing white headbands, the NBA’s latest fashion statement.

Stoudamire netted 21 points and had seven assists to lead Portland. Wallace compiled 20 points and 13 rebounds. Wells, Steve Smith and Shawn Kemp were also in double figures. Toronto’s burly Antonio Davis, dueling former Indiana teammate Dale Davis at the low block, scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

The Raptors got a taste of Portland’s home cooking as the referees repeatedly took away calls from the visitors. Once, Kemp barreled his way to the basket and either walked or charged but went to the line instead. In the fourth period, Curry was clearly fouled in the act of shooting but the referees ruled a sideline throwin. Then, Williams stripped Kemp of the ball and was pushed to the floor by the hefty forward only to be whistled for a foul. That’s what they call the homecourt advantage.

Wilkens made a fight of it by gambling on a three-guard alignment in the late going. Jackson, Williams, and Curry nearly got the job done. In the end, Oakley’s absence – more than Carter’s – made the difference as the Blazers were almost unchallenged under the hoop.

Knight’s box is one of 70 executive suites at the Rose Garden, the 19,980-seat building which is the centerpiece of the 38-acre, $262 Million Rose Quarter development on the east bank of the Willamette River across downtown Portland. The Garden is equipped with 750 TV monitors and a state-of-the-art sound system.