Blue vs Green due reunion of former ADMU, La Salle stars

MANILA, Philippines - Other than reliving the rivalry for a good cause, this week’s “Blue vs. Green: Dream Game 2012” exhibition match, also serves as a reunion of sorts for players of both De La Salle and Ateneo.

Coaches Norman Black of the Blue Eagles and Franz Pumaren of the Green Archers were one in saying the players themselves look forward of playing together again for their respective schools in the charity game set this Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The 6 p.m. game to be aired live on AKTV, will be the first exhibition encounter between college basketball’s most bitter rivals since 2008 when the two schools battled to a 90-90 standoff.

“It’s going to be fun, and yet competitive,” said Black, architect behind Ateneo’s four straight UAAP men’s basketball titles from 2008 until the present.

“Remember too, that this game will be like a reunion for most of these players, be it Ateneo or La Salle.”

 “The players are quite excited,” added Pumaren, who similarly steered La Salle to four straight UAAP men’s championship from 1998-2001. “And based on the tickets request that I have been getting, I’m quite surprised about the interests this game has been generating.”

Black, Pumaren, Kerwin Yu of the organizing Mastermind Entertainment, and Rose Montreal of the PBA properties appeared in Tuesday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Ave. to talk about the cage event being held for the benefit of young cancer patients of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) and the PBA Trust Fund.

“It’s always a pleasure to play for school pride, and of course, for charity,” said Yu, himself an Atenean, in the forum presented by Smart, Shakey’s, and Pagcor Montreal added the game is just one of several charity projects lined up by the PBA under commissioner Chito Salud, for 2012.

Ateneo will be bannered by an imposing frontcourt led by Japeth Aguilar, Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Enrico Villanueva, Noy Baclao, Doug Kramer, Paolo Bugia, and Rich Alvarez, with JC Intal, Larry Fonacier, Wesley Gonzales, Magnum Membrere, Eric Salamat and L.A. Tenorio completing the wings and backcourt.

La Salle, on the other hand, will rely on an explosive backcourt bannered by top rookie pick JV Casio, Mike Cortez, Joseph Yeo, Mac Cardona, RenRen Ritualo, TY Tang and Ryan Arana, with Don Allado, Rico Maierhoffer, Carlo Sharma, Jerwin Gaco, Willie Wilson and Brian Ilad complementing them at the post.

Black expects Al-Hussaini to play for a few minutes, saying the Petron power forward has already recuperated from the ACL injury that sidelined him for about six months.

Pumaren is also looking forward to a healthy La Salle roster, including Maierhoffer, who’s likewise coming off an injury.

The 13-man Archers already conducted their practice with Pumaren yesterday, while the Eagles, according to Black, will practice twice – on Wednesday and Friday.

“I just hope all of them show up,” said a grinning Black.