NBA legends team up with PBA counterparts

MANILA, Philippines—Imagine AW Patrimonio kicking out to a wide open Mitch Ritchmond for a triple or Ronnie Magsanoc throwing a lob for an alley-hoop to a streaking Chris Webber.   Envision Glen Rice and Allan Caidic taking turns in shooting the lights out of the coliseum or Gary Payton running the break with Arwind Santos and Vergel Meneses.   The possibilities are endless when a slew of NBA Legends strut their wares together with former and current PBA stars in the NBA Asia Challenge on Aug. 27 at the Araneta Coliseum.   Webber and Ritchmond, who have 12 NBA All-Star Game appearances between them, banner Team White that includes Magsanoc and Patrimonio.   Rice, the 1997 All-Star Game Most Valuable Player, and Payton, a nine-time All Star and NBA champion with the Miami Heat in 2006, will be at the forefront of Team Blue.   Joining Webber and Richmond in Team White are two-time PBA Most Valuable Player Benjie Paras, current PBA players Dondon Hontiveros, Rico Maierhofer and Ronald Tubid and NBA D-League standouts Mark Tyndale and Richie Frahm, also a former import in the PBA.   Aside from Rice, Payton, Caidic, Santos and Meneses, Team Blue is also composed of PBA legend Atoy Co, PBA first mythical team members LA Tenorio and Arwind Santos, Asi Taulava and NBA D-League players Darnell Lazare and Chris McCray.   Tickets for the NBA Asia Challenge, presented by Solar TV and supported by the PBA. are on sale at Ticketnet outlets.