Mayor Rama steals the show in TESDA’s ‘Shoot for your Dreams’

CEBU, Philippines - Team Specialista may mave lost, but Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama definitely stole the show after knocking in 11 3-pointers of his 39-point production during their Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-organized basketball exhibition match against Team Trabaho last Thursday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Billed as "Shoot for your Dreams," Team Trabaho bannered by Manila PBA Legends pulled off  a 98-95 win over Team Specialista, which was backed up by three Cebuano ex-PBA cagers in Bonel Balingit, and Roel Gomez and Felix "Donbel" Belano  Jr.,  now head coach of University of Cebu Webmasters and University of  the Visayas Green Lancers, respectively.

Still  it was Rama, who caught the fancy of the crowd with his long-range bombing, even though he missed what could have been the most explosive 3-point bomb of the night.

Moments after Kenneth Duremdes banked a shot from the beyond the arc to give Team Trabaho a 98-95 edge with only 43 seconds left to play, Rama had a chance to knot the count and end the game in a standoff.

This even if Team Trabaho had the ball possession as Duremdes, despite being left wide open from the 3-point land, opted to pass the ball to Rama on the other side of the court to the delight of the 3,000– plus spectators.

The City's chief executive, however, flubbed his attempt that sealed Team Specialista's fate.

Duremdes, now head coach of Adamson University in the forthcoming UAAP season, churned out 23 points for Team Trabaho, which also featured former pro stars Marlou Aquino, Jerry Codiñera, Bobby Jose, Bal David, and Rodney Santos.

TESDA Director-General Joel Villanueva, who led Team Trabaho, also electrified the mammoth crowd after scoring the game's first 10 points – an acrobatic layup he followed up with back-to-back hits from the rainbow territory. He only played in the first quarter though after suffering leg cramps.

Santos and Aquino connived for 25 points for Team Trabaho, whose biggest lead stood at 12 points, 87-75.

Cebu First District Representative Gerald Anthony "Samsam" Gullas Jr. was the only other double-digit scorer for Team Specialista with 12 points.

Philippine basketball great Ramon "El Presidente" Fernandez also drew a warm applause from fans at the gallery, but he opted not to play.

It was truly a star-studded affair with Cebu Vice Govenor Agnes Magpale, former congressman Eduardo "Eddiegul" R. Gullas, Cebu City South District Representative Rodrigo "Bebot" Abellanosa, and majority of the mayors from the typhoon Yolanda-ravaged Cebu's Fourth District in attendance.— EBV with GGM (FREEMAN)