Ex-PBA stars reunite in US legends game

Classic rivalries were rekindled and history revisited as PBA stars of yesteryear took the hard court once again, playing a series of exhibition games for a cause.

More than 60 ex-pros from Manila and various parts of the United States took part in the 2008 PBA Legends Grand Reunion Tour, reminiscing the good old days and bringing joy and excitement to the Filipino-Americans in four major cities in California.

Stars of the fabled Crispa-Toyota rivalry headlined the roster of players including some of the finest players of the local pro league in the 90s.

They figured in a four-game series with Martin Purefoods-Crispa and Ohama Harbor-Toyota winning two games apiece.

Toyota scored a pulsating 91-89 win in the series opener at the Logan High School gym in Union City on March 8 before Crispa got even the following day with a 96-91 decision at the Arco Arena in Sacramento.

Crispa made it two in a row with a 104-101 victory in Carson City but Toyota closed the series at 2-2, winning 94-86 in San Diego.

Abet Guidaben, still showing some spring in his legs at 55, fired 21 points to lead all scorers in the Carson City contest. Atoy Co and Ronnie Magsanoc pumped in 19 apiece with Jojo Lastimosa adding 16, Yoyoy Villamin 11 and Bogs Adornado 10. Vergel Meneses rattled in 20 points to pace Toyota which also drew double-digit outputs from Gerry Esplana and Manny Victorino. In San Diego, Meneses topscored for Toyota with 23 with Jerry Codiñera and Tim Coloso contributing 11 apiece, Olsen Racela nine and Mon Fernandez and Francis Arnaiz eight apiece.

The losing team drew double-digit outputs from Magsanoc, Villamin, Guidaben and Romy dela Rosa.

Others playing for Crispa were Bernie Fabiosa, Philip Cezar, Alvin Patrimonio, Sonny Cabatu. Allan Caidic played the first two games and rushed back to Manila to attend to personal matter.

Others in the Robert Jaworski-mentored Toyota roster were Abe King, Manny Paner, Art dela Cruz, Hector Calma, Bong Alvarez, Marte Saldana and Yves Dignadice.

The other players played in the preliminaries of the series held by the PBA Legends USA Foundation to raise funds for its various programs. The foundation is the brainchild of King, backed by Rey Santos, Rufino Ignacio and other fellow former cagers.

There were also a series of one-on-one matches. It was Fernandez over Cezar, 6-4, King over Fernandez, 9-4, Cezar over King, 4-2, and Fabiosa over Arnaiz, 6-4, in Union City; King over Fernandez, 9-4, Fernandez over Cezar 12-8, King over Cezar, 6-3, and Arnaiz over Fabiosa, 6-2, in Sacramento; Cezar over King, 10-4, and Fabiosa over Arnaiz, 6-0, in Carson City; and Arnaiz over Fabiosa, 8-0, Cezar over Fernandez, 4-0, and Meneses over Alvarez, 6-2, in San Diego.