MANILA, Philippines - Reigning UAAP MVP Kiefer Ravena of Ateneo and Jeron Teng of La Salle will put the blue and green rivalry aside as they join forces in the name of charity.
Ravena and Teng headline the Team PCWorx composed of UAAP-NCAA stars under two-time PBA grand slam coach Tim Cone in “All In,” a charity basketball event slated Nov. 5 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
This is the first team-up of Ravena and Teng, the top guns of the two schools with one of the most intense rivalries in collegiate basketball, hooking up 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. It would be nice to play alongside my rival. After all, this is for a good cause,” said Ravena.
“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 Troy Rosario of 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 titlist San Beda, and San Sebastian’s Jaymar Perez. They will be reinforced by former NBA stars Eddy Curry and DerMarr Johnson.
They will go up against 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 former NBA MVP Allen Iverson, as they banner Team Gawad Kalinga. Joining them are former PBA stalwarts Jerry Codiñera, 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 Nov. 4.
The event is 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 are still available online at www.smtickets.com, all SM Tickets outlets, and select PCWorx branches in Metro Manila.