Another All-star affair

LAOAG CITY–Six players, who flew in here last Thursday to participate in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All-Star extravaganza this weekend, are seeing action in another All-Star show at the Araneta Coliseum on Dec. 8. And they’re just as excited to display their wares.

Rich Alvarez, Ren-Ren Ritualo, Enrico Villanueva, Mark Cardona, Larry Fonacier and Willie Wilson are among the cagers picked to play in the much-awaited Ateneo-La Salle Dream Game that is driving diehards from both schools crazy in anticipation.

Alvarez replaced injured Olsen Racela, a fellow Atenean, in the North All-Star lineup. Racela is recovering from surgery for a broken nose. Villanueva and Ritualo were also in coach Ryan Gregorio’s team that battled the South at the Centennial Arena here last night. Cardona, Fonacier and Wilson played in the Rookies versus Sophomores blitz game the other night.

Alvarez, Villanueva and Fonacier are in the Blue Eagles cast while Ritualo, Cardona and Wilson are playing for the Green Archers. The Dream Game will feature eight PBA stars and four mainstays of this season’s varsity in each team.

Paolo Bugia, Vince Hizon, Wesley Gonzales (who was voted by fans to play for the Sophomores in the blitz game but begged off due to injury), Racela (will be fully recovered by then), Jec Chia, Japeth Aguilar, J. C. Intal, Doug Kramer and pro-bound L. A. Tenorio are the others in the Ateneo roster.

Rounding up the La Salle squad are Don Allado, Mike Cortez, Mac Cuan, Jun Limpot, Mark Telan, Jun-Jun Cabatu, Rico Maierhofer, Ryan Arana and Joseph Yeo.

National coach Chot Reyes, a certified blueblood, will call the shots for Ateneo and Yeng Guiao, a La Salle Green Hills high school alumnus, will pilot the Archers.

Ateneo coach Norman Black joined the All-Stars here to do clinics and TV work. He said he would sit on the Eagles bench for the Dream Game if asked by Reyes. But even if not on the bench, Black said he’s ready to serve the team in any capacity.

The six players spoke enthusiastically about the Dream Game.

Cardona, who led the Archers to two University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s senior championships, said he’s excited to face Chia on the court. It was Chia who hit the key basket that killed the Archers" hopes for a championship in 2002.

Mac-Mac added that he’s so confident of victory that he’s willing to give Ateneo a plus 10. "Sa lakas ng lineup namin, "di kaya kaming talunin ng Ateneo," said Cardona who now plays for former Ateneo coach Joel Banal at Talk ‘N’ Text.

Fonacier laughed off Cardona’s odds and said he can’t wait to school the cocky Captain Hook.

"I’m looking forward to playing Mac-Mac," said Fonacier, short of promising to silence the La Salle star. "I’m excited to play not just because it’s a game against La Salle but also because I sat out my last year in the UAAP because of an injury. I’d like to make it up to Ateneo. I’m also excited to play on the same team as Olsen. I hope this is the start of more Dream Games because it really gets the alumni, faculty and students of both schools together again."

Wilson said La Salle is clearly the favorite because of its star-studded lineup but he isn’t discounting an Ateneo upset.

"We don’t have much to prove because we’ve got the established stars," said Wilson. "Ateneo has a lot more to prove and that’s what makes them dangerous. We can"t take them lightly."

Wilson played five years for La Salle and is three terms short of earning a degree. He said one of his goals is to finish up his studies and graduate.

"When I played in the UAAP, I treated every opposing team like Ateneo," said Wilson. "That’s the only way I play. I play hard. And that’s the way I’ll play in the Dream Game. I hang out with a lot of the Ateneo guys like Rich and Wesley so there’s no personal animosity. But when you’re out there on the court, you play to win and that’s the only thing that counts."

Villanueva said there’s a Red Bull game he’s playing in the day after but when the bands start playing and the drums start rolling, he’ll be fired up to go all out–whether or not he has a game the next day. Incidentally, La Salle’s coach is Villanueva’s coach at Red Bull.

"On paper, La Salle looks stronger but anything can happen on the court," said Villanueva. "The favorites don’t always win. What’s exciting is we’re reuniting the core of Ateneo’s 2002 championship team with Jec, Rich, Larry, Paolo, L. A. and me."

Villanueva said he expects to go up against Allado, Telan and Limpot. "I respect Jun a lot because he’s a legend," he continued. "But once we"re on the court, there’s no such thing as respect. I know Jun will play hard and so will I. Jun will want to show he still has what it takes to play the game at a high level and I think he can do it. We’ll be ready for him."

Ritualo said playing in the Dream Game rekindles the college spirit and the varsity atmosphere is something he cherishes. He played five years for La Salle and has teamed with Cardona, Allado, Wilson, Telan, Cuan and Yeo.

The Dream Game is something special for Ritualo because it’s coming in the heels of the eligibility controversy that rocked La Salle this year. "It’s an opportunity for La Salle to show we’re one again," said Ritualo. "This is a fun game but we’ll play hard. We want to win and we’re not scared of anyone. We’ve got MVPs who hate losing. We’ve got a reputation to protect."

Alvarez played 4 1/2 seasons for Ateneo and said the fans will make a difference in settling the outcome of the Dream Game.

"Once the crowd gets into it, anything can happen," he said. "That’s what the UAAP’s all about. The fantastic crowd support is really an inspiration. I’m looking forward to playing with my former Ateneo teammates and against La Salle stars like Mac-Mac and Joseph. I’d like to find out how we match up against La Salle’s biggest stars."

Black said Ritualo is the X-factor that Ateneo must contain to win.

"In a game like this where you’ve got so many stars and deadly scorers, you probably won’t want to double Ren-Ren," said Black. "But he’s such a threat from the outside and if you don"t double him, he’ll score a lot."

Black said the reputation of La Salle’s MVPs will not be a factor. "You’re only as good as your last game," he said. "Reputation doesn’t count. It’s what you bring to the floor."

Black made his debut on the Ateneo bench this year.

"Sure, we lost to La Salle in three games but did they really beat us" said Black. "Because La Salle admitted to playing an ineligible player, they forfeited all their wins."

Black’s point only makes the Dream Game even more interesting, if not intriguing. On Dec. 8, La Salle and Ateneo will clash for bragging rights in a Dream Game that could turn out to be a nightmare for the loser.