The SMART All-Stars led by Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant romped to a 131-105 win over a selection of Philippine basketball players on Saturday night at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum. But despite the lopsided scores, everyone in the venue – including the NBA superstars’ victims – went home happy in the game highlighted by rim-rattling dunks and above the rim action.
Washington center JaVale McGee stole the show from his more heralded teammates, scoring 25 points and leading the stunning display of aerial artistry. Kevin Durant added 22 points off vicious dunks and trademark fade-away long bombs in a stunning display of offensive prowess.
But the largest cheers in the arena were reserved for Bryant, the SMART-All Stars’ playing coach. The Lakers’ superstar, who did not play in the fourth quarter when the game was already decided, was serenaded by chants by the Filipino crowd egging him to put himself back in the game.
Bryant ended with only 12 points, which might have been the loudest 12 points in the history of the game. The 32-year-old guard turned back time, throwing down three sensational alley-oop slams as if he were a hotshot 18-year-old rookie, including a reverse dunk off a Chris Paul pass off the backboard in the second quarter.
It was one of many highlights of the night for Filipino fans, who packed the coliseum to the rafters and went bonkers on every dunk from their NBA idols.
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