Allan Caidic. PBA IMAGES
“The Triggerman” is still locked and loaded.
After all these years, Allan Caidic can still shoot the lights out and he shot San Miguel Beer past Alaska, 96-83, in the PBA Legends: Return of the Rivals charity event Sunday before a packed Araneta Coliseum crowd.
“It feels great. But more than the result and the game you watched, it’s the solidarity of the players. We came together for a good cause,” Caidic, who played for the Beermen from 1993 to 1998, said.
Caidic, who turns 56 in June, started slow before heating up as the game went on to finish with a game-high 26 points on 6-of-14 shooting from downtown. He fired 16 points in a back and forth final frame alone.
The crowd, fully engaged from the opening tip to the final buzzer, cheered every time Caidic received the ball behind the arc and roared when he swishes it.
More often than not, Caidic, widely-recognized as the greatest shooter in Philippine basketball, found the bottom of the net just like old times in the late 80s to the mid 90s.
The proceeds of the game will go to the PBA Foundation.
Willie Miller also had 16 in the fourth as he and Caidic engaged in a virtual shootout to the delight of the fans. Miller, a two-time MVP who suited up for Alaska from 2006 to 2010, finished with 20 points.
Johnny Abarrientos, a 12-time PBA champion winning nine titles as Alaska’s main man including a Grand Slam in 1996, also showed flashes of his vintage form to come away with 11 points, 10 rebounds and two steals.