MANILA, Philippines - UAAP champion La Salle and NCAA titlist San Beda blew winning chances at endgame and fought to a 74-all standoff in yesterday’s “Champions for a Cause†charity match at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Nigerian Ola Adeogun scored on a putback off a missed lay-up by team skipper Rome dela Rosa, got fouled by Norbert Torres in the process but missed the bonus free throw that would have given the Lions a one-point lead with 7.9 seconds to go.
With the game tied, the Archers had a couple of chances to snatch victory but Jeron Teng muffed a jumper and Torres missed on a putback as time expired, sending the game to a draw, this being an exhibition game held to help raise funds for Typhoon Yolanda survivors.
The question on which is the best varsity team in the country remained unanswered but at least, everybody went home happy.
“We’re thankful to the Filoil organizers for giving us a chance to play this game against the UAAP champion,†said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez.
“We’re happy we had a chance to help people affected by the typhoon but it also helped us in a way because we’re using this game as a tune-up to our PCCL game in the coming days,†said La Salle mentor Juno Sauler.
He was referring to the PCCL semifinals starting tomorrow at The Arena in San Juan where La Salle and San Beda will face each other again as well as Far Eastern U and Visayan champion Southwestern U in a round-robin format.
The one-day event generated around P1.8 million that will go directly to survivors of Typhoon Yolanda which devastated Eastern Visayas last month.
Of the proceeds, P1 million came from ticket sales, P370,000 each from La Salle and San Beda and their alumni while the rest came from Bostik Phils, Inc. (P37,000), Total Phls Corp. (P37,000), Star Mobile (P28,000) and the organizing Filoil Flying V Sports.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan was also in attendance to lend the event a helping hand while some basketball stars headed by Allan Caidic and Ren Ren Ritualo also graced the event.