Gasol scores $24K for Phl

MANILA, Philippines - LA Lakers forward-center Pau Gasol rifled in 24 points in leading the Lakers to a 102-95 win over the Golden State Warriors yesterday at Staples Center, scoring at least $24,000 in relief aid for victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines.

Determined to put up a huge production in a game where each point translated to $1,000 for the Philippines, Gasol connected on 11 of his 19 shots and had a perfect 2-of-2 from the foul line to finish as the game’s top scorer and raise substantial seed money for the UNICEF fund drive.

“I definitely had that motivation of scoring points tonight for the Philippines,” Gasol was quoted by the LA Times. “Once I started knocking down those outside shots, it opened things up for me because then I could attack off the dribble.”

The Spanish star had committed $1,000 per point he would score against the Warriors in the Lakers’ home game and urged his fans and friends to join and pledge $1, $5, $10, $20 or any other amount for every point.

His appeal drew tremendous response from good-hearted people all over the world, who had made their pledges either on the charity website CrowdRise.com (http://www.crowdrise.com/unicefphilippines/fundraiser/paugasol) or on his Twitter account @paugasol.

Former Lakers coach Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) upped the ante by promising $50 per point, plus another $50 per rebound and $1,000 for every charge taken. That would convert to $1,200 for the 24 points and another $500 for the 20 rebounds that Gasol hauled down.

He did not draw a charge, though, so there was no collection in this area.

“Charges are not my thing. Phil knows that,” Gasol said.

As of yesterday afternoon, a total of $6,175 has been raised on the CrowdRise website.

The 7-foot Gasol, who stepped up his scoring after averaging only 13 points in the first 12 games, won the hearts of every Filipino. They cheered him via social networking sites throughout the game and made him a trending topic on Twitter.

One Pinoy even said he has converted his allegiance to the Lakers, and his new favorite player the big man from Barcelona.