Ravena, Teng set aside rivalry in Allen Iverson charity game

MANILA, Philippines -- Reigning UAAP MVP Kiefer Ravena will throw his rivalry with DLSU’s Jeron Teng outside the window for the meantime in the name of charity.

Ravena and Teng lead the cast of collegiate who will be suiting up for Team PCWorx in “All In,” a charity basketball event slated on November 5 at the Mall of Asia Arena. The team made up of UAAP and NCAA stars will be mentored by no less than the PBA’s history-making, two-time grandslam-winning coach Tim Cone.

This is the first team-up of two of the biggest names from one of the biggest rivalries in collegiate basketball in the fundraiser presented by PCWorx which aims to build homes for poor Filipino families through Gawad Kalinga.

“It will be a lot of fun,” quipped Ravena. “It would be nice to play alongside my rival, after all, this is for a good cause.”

“And for us from the UAAP and NCAA playing for coach Tim, I’m sure we all will learn a lot from him. It’s an honor to play for one of the winningest coaches in PBA history,” added the Ateneo hotshot.

Joining Ravena and Teng are Jeth Troy Rosario from newly-crowned UAAP champion National University, Mark Belo of FEU, Ravena’s younger brother Thirdy, Teng’s La Salle teammate Almond Vosotros, Javee Mocon and Ola Adeogun of NCAA five-peat champion San Beda, and San Sebastian’s Jaymar Perez. They will be reinforced by former NBA stars Eddy Curry and DerMarr Johnson.

They will try to overpower the Ball Up Streetball All-Stars -- Grayson “The Professor” Boucher, Larry “Bone Collector” Williams, Taurian “Air Up There” Fontanette, Gary “G-Smith” Smith, Aaron “AO” Owens, Anthony “Mr. Afrika” Pimble and Ryan “Special FX” Williams, to be coached by no less than former NBA MVP Allen Iverson, as they banner Team Gawad Kalinga. Joining them are former PBA stalwarts Jerry Codinera, Willie Miller, and Renren Ritualo.

“Allen Iverson is one of those players who revolutionized the game of basketball. He is “The Answer”. He changed the game in so many ways that you still see those changes on the court. I can’t wait to meet him,” said Ravena.

Prior to the charity game, Iverson and Cone will hold a youth basketball clinic for those aged 10-15 at the Gawad Kalinga Bulaklakan Chapter in Bgy. Holy Spirit in Quezon City on November 4.

Backed by Philippine Airlines, NBA Café Manila, Solaire Resort and Casino, Samsung, Intel, Microsoft, PhilCare, Canon, Rapoo, Accel, and the Mall of Asia Arena, tickets to “All In” are still available online at www.smtickets.com, all SM Tickets outlets, and select PCWorx branches in Metro Manila.