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MANILA, Philippines — Between Jose Manalo’s refereeing skills and Matt Ganuelas breaking the basketball ring, Fastbreak 2, a benefit game for the victims of Yolanda (Haiyan), proved to be a success.
Spearheaded by the Ravena family and featuring top UAAP basketball stars and celebrities, Fastbreak 2 was held at the Blue Eagle Gym on Saturday, November 30, and the total proceeds are expected to reach P1 million.
Mozzy Ravena, former volleyball star and mother to UAAP star Kiefer Ravena, told Rappler that they would determine the exact amount of the total proceeds generated in the next few days.
All proceeds will be used in helping rebuild and restore classrooms in the Municipality of Concepcion in Iloilo, a small coastal town that was left in ruins by typhoon Yolanda when it hit a few weeks ago.
Mozzy Ravena said that her entire family will personally bring the money to Concepcion and help the townspeople rebuild classrooms and their homes.
“Kami nila Kiefer, we’re going there [Concepcion] on December 25, and siguro by the 26th or 29th we’re going na to the school mismo,” Mozzy Ravena said. “We will go to the school, titignan namin kung ano na yung mga repairs na pwedeng gawin immediately, kung saan pwede yung money, kung saan kakasya.”
(Kiefer and my family will be going there on December 25. Perhaps by the 26th or 29th we’re going to the school itself. We will go to the school to and see what kinds of repairs we can do immediately, where the money can be used and how sufficient it is.)
She gave assurances the family would be sending photos and updates via the Fastbreak 2 Facebook account.
“We will send pictures, update namin kayo.” (We will send pictures, we will update you.)
Kiefer explained that they wanted to help Concepcion specifically because they’ve frequented the province many times.
“We have a lot of friends in Concepcion and it’s really gone,” he said. “Concepcion is close to my heart.”
Celebrities provide laughter and entertainment
The benefit game was a match between the Blue and Red teams, which were comprised of a mix of celebrities and college basketball players.
Celebrities who suited up included Derek Ramsay, Gerald Anderson, Xian Lim, Vhong Navarro, Billy Crawford, Jose Manalo, Cesar Montano and Rocco Nacino. While college cagers included Kiefer Ravena, Rayray Parks, Kevin Alas, Baser Amer, Von Pessumal, Chris Newsome, Matt Ganuelas, and incoming collegiate player Thirdy Ravena, among others.
Members from both teams put on a show that was a mix of showing off basketball athleticism as well as good, classic entertainment.
Matt Ganuelas of Gilas and the NLEX Road Warriors initiated the laughter barely a few minutes into the match when he sent home the first dunk of the game and broke the ring in the process. This caused the game to be delayed a few minutes as the ring had to be replaced.
“It was a regular fastbreak and I went and tried to throw it down pretty hard and the rim just came down with me,” Ganuelas said, still laughing from the unexpected twist in his dunk. “This is my first time [to break a ring]!”
After that it was comedian Jose Manalo who provided entertainment and had spectators laughing hard in their seats.
In the second period, Manalo got hold of a referee’s whistle and decided to play and referee the game at the same time, to the delight of the crowd and teammates. Fellow actors and hosts Billy Crawford and Vhong Navarro joined in as well, with Crawford performing dance moves while dribbling, and Navarro pretending to get in a scuffle with his own teammate Manalo.
The game ended in a draw, 71 all, as both teams finished the game with a series of flashy basketball moves such as double alley-oops capped by explosive dunks, firing up the crowd.
Showtime host Navarro felt that Fastbreak 2 was a good mix of having a good time and helping out. “Sobrang maganda yung nakatulong ka na, nag-enjoy ka pa,” he said after the game. (It’s really good to know that we helped others while at the same time enjoying.)
Manalo also appreciated the fact that Kiefer and his family organized a second Fastbreak charity game after an equally successful one last year for the victims of Typhoon Sendong.
“Masarap yung makapaglaro ulit. Masarap yung ganitong may fundraising ulit si Kiefer para sa kababayan natin,” said the comedian from Eat Bulaga. “Sana laging may fundraising, hindi lang pag kailangan. Sana makatulong tayo sa mga kasama natin kahit hindi nasalanta ng bagyo.”
(It’s nice to play again. It’s nice that Kiefer had this fundraising event again for our countrymen. I hope there will always be fundraising events, not just when it’s needed. I hope we can help our countrymen even if they’re not victims of a typhoon.)
Actor Derek Ramsay also shared his thoughts, saying that playing alongside his friends for a good cause simply made his day.
“I’m gonna go home with the biggest smile on my face, knowing that I gave my bit to help out those who were affected by the storm,” he said. “It’s an honor for me to be here, to cancel everything that I had scheduled today to help out.”
Volleyball stars Gretchen Ho, Alyssa Valdez, Michelle Gumabao, Melissa Gohing, Jen Reyes, and Rachel Anne Daquis were also present and joined the festivities at halftime.
“Natuwa kami kasi kahit papaano, kahit volleyball community kami, we were still given a chance to be part of this celebration (We’re happy that even if we’re from the volleyball community, we were still given a chance to be part of this celebration),” said Ho, a former Ateneo Lady Eagle. “We’re just really happy to be able to help and contribute.”– Rappler.com
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