Asi to face NBA visitors

Coca-Cola center Asi Taulava has been added to the Philippine All-Star team that’s going up against four NBA legends and six D-Leaguers in a historic one-game battle dubbed the “NBA Asia Challenge” at the Araneta Coliseum on Sept. 11.

Taulava is coming off a stint with the Powerade national squad at the FIBA-Asia Championships in Tainjin and will be a key player in coach Yeng Guiao’s rotation against the “invaders.”

Guiao is expected to use Taulava, Sonny Thoss and Japeth Aguilar in the interior against 7-1 Vlade Divac, 6-9 Chris Ellis of Wake Forest and 6-9 Marcus Hubbard of Angelo State.

The PBA selection will bring together legends Alvin Patrimonio, Allan Caidic, Ronnie Magsanoc, Benjie Paras and Kenneth Duremdes to match up against NBA “oldtimers” Divac, Dominique Wilkins, Tim Hardaway and Robert Horry. Beefing up the local cast are PBA stars Dondon Hontiveros, Jay-R Reyes, Marc Pingris, Enrico Villanueva, Joseph Yeo, Arwind Santos, Wynne Arboleda, Thoss, Aguilar, Taulava and Willie Miller.

At presstime, it wasn’t sure if Miller would suit up because of the groin injury that knocked him out of the last two games in Tianjin.

The D-Leaguers in the NBA roster are former PBA import Billy Thomas (Tanduay, 2001), 6-4 Derrick Dial of Eastern Michigan, Ellis, Hubbard, 6-3 Russell Robinson of the 2007-08 NCAA champion Kansas varsity and 6-3 Clarence (Lanny) Smith of Houston.

Dial, 33, is tipped to play a big role for coach Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He was the last to be signed up for the Manila tour. Dial has played for the San Antonio Spurs, New Jersey Nets, Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic in the NBA. In 2001-02, the sharpshooter averaged 27 points, 7.3 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 25 games for Southern California in the American Basketball Association. 

Solar marketing manager for basketball properties Vitto Lazatin said yesterday there will be exclusive “NBA Asia Challenge” merchandise on sale, to include caps, jerseys and T-shirts.

The NBA team is arriving on Sept. 7 from Korea. The visitors will meet and greet fans from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Mall of Asia on Sept. 9. Lazatin said games, contests, photo and autograph opportunities will be organized for fans. Earlier, from 1 to 2 p.m., the team will be split into three groups to visit Megamall, the Podium and SM North Edsa.

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“Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona won’t be the youngest Filipino world boxing champion after all if he dethrones WBO superflyweight titleholder Jose (Carita) Lopez in Ontario, Canada, on Sept. 4.

Rene Bonsubre, Jr., writing from Cebu in philboxing.com, recently set the record straight by citing Morris East as the youngest Filipino world titlist ever and correctly pointed out that even if Sonsona beats Lopez, he’ll be 10 days short of breaking the mark.

East was 19 years and 32 days old when he knocked out Akinobu Hiranaka to wrest the WBA superlightweight crown in Tokyo on Sept. 9, 1992. East was born in Olongapo City on Aug. 8, 1973.

If Sonsona wins the WBO diadem, he will be 19 years and 41 days old – nine days shy of matching East’s record and 10 days short of setting a new mark. He was born on July 25, 1990. Two other Filipinos won world titles at 19 but Ben Villaflor and Manny Pacquiao were months older than East when he achieved his feat.

East, 36, is now a fight trainer at the world-famous Johnny Tocco gym in Las Vegas. He moved to San Diego in 1996 and later relocated to Las Vegas.

Three years ago, East said he’s doing just fine. “I’m surviving,” he said. “I make about $3,000 a month as a trainer. One of my pros is unbeaten and will be a world champion someday. I send $150 a month to each of my five children in the Philippines.”

East’s five children were born out of relationships with three different women. He said he’s not too old to make a comeback but at 240 pounds, he’s definitely not fighting as a heavyweight.

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Six-time world bowling champion Paeng Nepomuceno will receive the De La Salle Alumni Association (DLSAA) Distinguished Lasallian Award during the “One La Salle Night of Excellence” at the Taft Avenue campus on Sept. 18.

The ceremonies will also include citing alumni for the Lasallian Achievement Awards, the Sports Hall of Fame Awards, the Sports Achievement Awards, the Br. Benedict Awards and the President’s Award. A Mass will be celebrated at the Chapel of the Most Blessed Sacrament to begin the 5 p.m. festivities then cocktails at the Marilen Gaerlan Conservatory to be followed by the awarding at the Teresa Yuchengco Auditorium.

Nepocumeno’s award is the highest and most prestigious non-sports award given by the DLSAA. He was inducted into the La Salle Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. The Distinguished Award honors alumni who have earned distinction and unusual positive recognition for their vision, leadership, management and integrity in their chosen fields, professions or public service, who are reputed nationally or internationally and who may serve both as professional and personal role models for Lasallian students and other Filipinos.

Nepomuceno is the first Sports Hall of Famer and athlete to receive the DLSAA’s highest award.

Aside from Nepomuceno, Dr. Carmelita Quebengco will also receive the Distinguished Lasallian Award. To be cited as Achievement Awardees are broadcast journalist Rico Hizon, stage artist Cocoy Laurel, architect Augusto Villalon and banker Deogracias Vistan. The Sports Hall of Fame inductees are Ignacio Achaval, Terry Capistrano, Andy Jao, Ramon Llanos, Juan Ignacio Pertierra, Arthur Pons, Romee Sotto and Ed Unson. The Sports Achievement Awardees are John Paul Gomez, Manilla Santos and P. J. Tierro. Receiving the Br. Benedict Award are Denny Cagampan and Ramon Manalo. Johnny Air Cargo will be given the President’s Award.

Congratulations to all the awardees on their Green Letter Day.