Despite Typhoon Ondoy’s impending storm threat, basketball fans queued up in Cuneta Astrodome’s ticket terminals September 25, making it a red-letter day both for sports and public service history.

As part of his continuous ‘Isang Araw Lang’ campaign, Mr. Public Service Kuya Daniel Razon revved up a one-of-a-kind basketball game for both the young and the not-so-young. Non-basketball fans became instant aficionados after experiencing the intense courtside action inside Pasay’s famed dome.

The Alaska Aces and the Coca-Cola Tigers hooped the night with one heart-pounding game featuring PBA All-Star household names, who held their audience’s breath in a play-for-a-cause for free college education. Coaches Tim Cone and Kenneth Duremdes lashed out their styles as both teams batted it out in the fun-filled PBA pre-conference game.

Both teams readily showed basketball supremacy in the first heat. Asi Taulava, a crowd favorite, never failed to give the audience one undeniably entertaining game.

The audience, for their part, cheered for the two teams. Sportsmanship prevailed the rest of the evening as no one was at the losing end.

The game folded with a 100-97 favoring the Aces, which, barely 2 seconds away called for a number of time-outs and 1 winning three-pointer to break the tie.

Supporters and basketball fans were all smiles at the event’s egress. They are anticipating for a similar sports stormer in the future.

Prior the anticipated PBA All-Stars game, UNTV 37’s Barangay Hoopsters showcased their skills in an exhibition match versus selected young organization leaders.

The project’s proponent, Kuya Daniel Razon, still in a jetlag to promote his movie ‘Isang Araw Lang’ and perform extension works abroad, got an overwhelming standing ovation as he was welcomed to render a few words and to award plaques to the PBA and the cooperating teams. He entered the court in his signature move, his index finger pointing upwards, the inspiration for the logo ‘Isang Araw Lang’.

He has high hopes that the event will spearhead a series of similar activities in continuance of the campaign he conceptualized a few months ago.

‘We thank the Lord for giving us another opportunity to be instruments of goodwill to our fellowmen who need help, and we hope that you will continue supporting the ‘Isang Araw Lang’ campaign’, Kuya Daniel remarks.

He thanked the PBA and patrons for supporting and believing the concept and mission of the Free College Education, a cause which the event was called for. He adds, ‘Thanks to the PBA that they have now embarked in public service.’

Coinciding with the PBA pre-conference game is the in-demand screening of the movie ‘Isang Araw Lang’ at the AFP Theater in Quezon City.

The two activities are a few of the many projects underscoring Kuya Daniel’s campaign to share a dose of goodwill that begins in a day. (Published on September 28, 2009)

Written by Chris Anne Gonzales