MANILA, Philippines – After Dominique Wilkins electrified the Big Dome last year, the NBA Asia Challenge returns on August 27 with a promise of bringing the height of excitement to a higher level in this basketball-crazy nation.
 
NBA legends Chris Webber, Gary Payton, Glen Rice and Mitch Richmond headline this year’s event that will also feature players from the NBA Development League (D-League) and the PBA’s legends and current stars.
 
Webber was a member of University of Michigan’s famous “Fab Five” in the US NCAA before becoming the face of the Sacramento Kings in the NBA.  

Payton, on the other hand, is known as “The Glove” for his tenacious defense. He won a championship with the Miami Heat in 2006 after wearing the Seattle Supersonics jersey for the first 12 and a half seasons of his career.
 
The duo will be joined by Rice, the 1997 NBA All-Star MVP, and Richmond, the 1995 All-Star MVP.  Both won a championship each with the Los Angeles Lakers (Rice in 2000 and Richmond in 2002).
 
Former Talk ‘N Text import Richie Frahm leads the NBA D-League stars, who will join the NBA legends, in the event co-presented by the NBA and Solar TV in cooperation with the PBA.  Darnell Lazare, Mark Tyndale and Chris McCray complete the cast.

The Miami Heat dancers and the team's mascot, Burnie, will also join the group to spice up the one-day event.
 
Meanwhile, Allan Caidic, who caught the attention of the NBA legends last year, will be back to banner the PBA Legends.  

“The Triggerman” will be joined by four-time MVP Alvin Patrimonio, the only Rookie of the Year-MVP Benjie Paras, Ronnie Magsanoc, Vergel Meneses and Atoy Co.  
 
The current PBA stars who will play in the exhibition game are Dondon Hontiveros, Arwind Santos, Rico Maierhofer, Ronald Tubid and Asi Taulava.
 
Last year, Wilkins, who is called “The Human Highlight Film,” dropped 28 points to lead the NBA Generations to a 109-86 win.
 
This year, the organizers will introduce a new format where each team will be comprised of a mix of NBA Legends, NBA D-League players and PBA All-Stars and Legends.
 
“We’re very excited to bring back the NBA Asia Challenge here in the Philippines.  Wherever we go, I can say that there’s no greater and as passionate as the Filipino basketball fans,” said NBA Asia senior director of business development and marketing partnership Ed Winkle during the press launch of the event at the Gazebo of the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.
 
Winkle was accompanied by PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios, PBA chairman Rene Pardo and Solar TV CEO Peter Chan Liong in formally launching the event. Tickets for the event, which cost from P264 to P2,640, go on sale starting August 5.