NBA Challenge features 4 legends

MANILA, Philippines - The NBA Asia Challenge returns to Manila on Aug. 27, bringing in cage legends Gary Payton, Glen Rice, Mitch Richmond and Chris Webber in a follow-up to a similar event held at the Araneta Coliseum last year that featured Dominique Wilkins and company.

Payton, Rice, Richmond and Webber show their wares in an exhibition game that will also showcase NBA D-Leaguers Richie Frahm, Darnell Lazare, Mark Tyndale and Chris McCray.

Local participants are PBA legends Alvin Patrimonio, Ronnie Magsanoc, Vergel Meneses, Atoy Co, Allan Caidic and Benjie Paras and active PBA players Rico Maierhofer, LA Tenorio, Asi Taulava, Arwind Santos, Dondon Hontiveros and Ronald Tubid.

In a departure from last year’s format, this year’s NBA Asia Challenge will be a game pitting two teams with a mixed roster of NBA Legends, D-Leaguers and local stars.

The Wilkins-led NBA side, also featuring Robert Horry, Tim Hardaway and Vladi Divac, as expected, walloped the PBA side, 109-86.

Wilkins, the slam-dunk star of the Atlanta Hawks , led all scorers with 28. The Filipinos were paced by Caidic with 15 on five triples he all made in the opening quarter.

Payton, Rice, Richmond and Webber will come together with the Miami Heat Dancers and Miami Heat mascot Burnie.

Among the D-Leaguers, familiar to Filipino basketball fans is Frahm who had a PBA stint as Talk n Text import.

Payton is easily the biggest name, well remembered for his 13-year stint with the Seattle SuperSonics.

Franchise record holder in points, assists and steals with Seattle, “The Glove” later played with the Milwaukee Bucks, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat where he won an NBA championship.