MANILA, Philippines - Team Zamboanga prevailed over Skyforce, 105-99, in the one-day fund-raiser dubbed the Smart Friendly Game: Ayuda Zamboanga before a capacity crowd at the Astrodome last Sunday.
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano suited up for Team Zamboanga, scoring eight points while playing along with PBA cager Gary David and Zamboanga natives Jonathan Belorio, brothers Chico and Garvo Lanete, Chester Tolomia and Rudy Lingganay.
David finished with 15 points in a match marked by several lead changes.
“I thought it was really an innovative way of raising funds and at the same time fostering camaraderie. We’ve proven that in basketball, we can have a friendly yet productive game. Like in the Gilas’ FIBA campaign, we can be as one for a common goal,†said Cayetano in lauding organizers in coming up with the benefit game for the victims of the Zambo conflict.
Cayetano also proposed that Part II of Ayuda Zamboanga match be held in Taguig City.
“We’re going to have a Part 2 of this event and we’ll tap sponsors. We just hope that by then the Zamboanga conflict is over and we’ll get pictures to show at halftime that would show not only the plight of the victims but also our soldiers,†said Cayetano.
During the halftime break, Cayetano announced that he would put up a counterpart amount of P1,000 for every point scored for the total amount of P105,000.
This is outside of the P200,000 funding from the Senate as part of their assistance for the displaced residents of Zamboanga City.