'Blue vs Green' dream tiff to benefit kids with cancer

MANILA, Philippines - Other than the bragging rights, the coming Ateneo-La Salle exhibition game on Feb. 5 will also be held for a good cause.

The cancer and hematology center of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center in Quezon City is the main beneficiary of the PBA Dream Game 2012: “Blue vs Green” at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the first exhibition encounter in the last four years between college basketball’s most compelling rivalry.

For the past two years, the cancer and hematology center of the PCMC had been the beneficiary of the proceeds from the two fun runs staged by the Philippine Basketball Association. 

This time, in cooperation with Mastermind Entertainment, the PBA decided to hold instead a one-game La Salle-Ateneo match featuring current players of the league who played for the two proud schools in the past.

Franz Pumaren will call the shots for the Archers team bannered by RenRen Ritualo, Mac Cardona, JV Casio, Don Allado, Joseph Yeo, Mike Cortez, Rico Maierhoffer, Willie Wilson, Brian Ilad, TY Tang, Ryan Arana, Carlo Sharma and Jerwin Gaco.

Current Ateneo coach Norman Black handles the Blue Eagles side composed of L.A. Tenorio, JC Intal, Japeth Aguilar, Enrico Villanueva, Eric Salamat, Larry Fonacier, Doug Kramer, Rich Alvarez, Magnum Membrere, Wesley Gonzales, Noy Baclao, and Rabeh Al-Hussaini.

Both Black and Pumaren welcome the holding of the cagefest for a cause, especially since the PCMC is the only institution in Manila that has a cancer and hematology center for kids.

The PCMC cancer and hematology center averaged 300 children patients daily.

Last year, proceeds of the PBA Fun Run 2 provided for two chemo-theraphy machines for the center.

The Archers and Eagles fought to a 90-90 standoff in the last exhibition match in 2008 pitting the two bitter rival schools.