Photo by Cathy Miranda/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—In a scrimmage that would help both squads, the youngsters of Athletes in Action got the better of the Barako Bull Energy, 113-105, in a friendly match between college students from American universities and pros from the Philippine Basketball Association Monday evening at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong.
Utilizing a fast-paced offense, the athletes from several National Collegiate Athletics Association Division 1 schools had to hold-off a rallying Energy in the final frame to complete the victory.
Barako Bull would slowly gore at the youngsters’ wall that got up as high as 23 points and trim it down to four with more than four minutes remaining in the fourth, 103-99.
Despite the constant pressure from the Energy, the AIA would stage a 7-0 dash to put the lead into double-digits once again, 110-99, with Jerome Hill scoring twice from the paint and one conversion from the charity stripe.
Though the game would be a hard-nosed and blistering affair, one of the leaders of the AIA said that the game was part of a larger mission in the Philippines to give inspiration through basketball and the Word of God.
“It’s a great experience,” Traevon Jackson, a member of the University of Wisconsin squad that went into the NCAA March Madness Final Four in 2014.
He said that some of his teammates in AIA have “changed” through their travel in the Philippines and have developed an affinity for the basketball throughout the experience.
“After these they have changed, it’s not just about basketball, we also learn the Gospel and give the people hope.”
AIA’s skirmish against the Energy capped the 12-day stay of the team in the country playing against teams from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, PBA Developmental League, and the PBA.
Other noteworthy alumni of the AIA, a grassroots program for collegiate players before stepping into the pros, are National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant, San Antonio Spurs legend David Robinson, Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul, former National Football League quarterback Tim Tebow, and Smart-Gilas Pilipinas forward Gabe Norwood.
Hill paced AIA with 27 points, followed by Butler University swingman Kellen Dunham with 20, Letma Nwogbo with 19, and Jackson at 17.
Sports apparel brand Under Armour is in support of the advocacy of the basketball grassroots program.
