Atoy “Fortune Cookie” Co

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) icons urged aspiring cagers to keep on believing that they can make it big in the basketball scene.

Atoy “Fortune Cookie” Co of the Crispa Redmanizers stressed that one has to make a lot of sacrifices on the road to being a successful basketball player.

“Huwag lang nilang itigil sa kanilang pangarap. Hangga’t ‘di nila naa-achieve, go on dreaming. Siyempre, ang pangarap may kasamang sakripisyo,” he told ABS-CBN News during the “Hoopsters meet the Legends” charity event on Sunday.

Co, a PBA Hall of Fame inductee and 1979 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award recipient, also reminded the youth to focus on their studies.

“Usually, lagi kong sinasabi kailan nag-uumpisa ang kapalaran niyo sa basketball, nag-uumpisa sa pag-aaral din. Usually mga college player ang siyang unang nakakarating sa dapat nilang lagyan sa larangan ng paglalaro ng basketball,” he added.

Kenneth “Captain Marbel” Duremdes, the 1998 MVP, said it is possible for dreamers to be basketball stars as long as they keep the faith.

“Basta naniniwala sa taas at naniniwala sa sarili nila, alam mo may nararating ka,” he stated.

Co’s fellow Class of 2005 Hall of Fame inductee, Philip Cezar, shared that retired players are doing their part to encouraging young players.

“Lahat naman kasi gusto magkaroon ng pangalan sa basketball, gusto sumikat,” said the 1980 MVP, also known as “The Scholar” and “Tapal King.”

“Isa rin ‘yan sa adhikain naming PBA players na retired—makatulong bigyan ng konting pointers kahit sa pamamagitan ng konting abilidad ba o pakikisama,” added Cezar.

Philip “The Scholar/Tapal King” Cezar

Charity game

Co, Duremdes and Cezar returned to the hard court on Sunday not only to thrill the fans and play the game they love but to show support for a charitable cause as well.

The “Hoopsters meet the Legends” event was held for the benefit of scholars at La Verdad Christian College in Caloocan City.

The other PBA legends who played at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City were Bogs Adornado, Freddie Hubalde, Orly Bauzon, Paul Alvarez, Jerry Codiñera, Jun Limpot, Vince Hizon and Vergel Meneses.

The PBA legends posted an 80-72 win over the Hoopsters team of broadcaster Daniel Razon. The squad was composed of Cyril Santiago, Jon Jon Apuya, Jeff Versoza, Julius Casaysayan, Anton Tolentino, Jeffrey Sanders, Mark Tyer, Michael Balang, Kheem Camba, Glen Labung, Jan Ewald Santiago, Rainier Cabrera and Jong Egea.

According to the Manila Bulletin, Duremdes was the top scorer with 18 points followed by Meneses and Alvarez who scored 17 points each.

Co even had apprehensions about playing against much younger guys. “Baka magmukhang katawa-tawa kami,” he stated.

But he reiterated the he did not think twice about participating in the charity event. “Malaking karangalan at tuwang-tuwa ako,” he added.

Cezar commented: “Maganda ‘yung feeling na maraming natutulungan kahit isang araw lang.”

Kenneth “Captain Marbel” Duremdes

Duremdes, for his part, already assured his attendance in Razon’s upcoming charity events.

“Kung maulit man ‘to, kahit ilang araw, ilang beses, ‘di tayo magdadalawang-isip ulit para sa ganitong advocacy,” he said.

Meanwhile, Razon revealed what he is planning to cook up for his next event.

“Gusto ko sanang mabuo Crispa-Toyota,” he stated. “I was a fan during my younger years. ‘Yun yung alam naman natin na pukpukan at that time… It’s a good project na paglabanin ‘yung dalawa.”