Celebrity Jhong Hilario and Ateneo's Nico Salva during Fastbreak. Photos by Vyn Radovan.

Jose Manalo's antics made the game's already-enjoyable atmosphere more fun.

With his team making a rally after being down most of the game, comedian Jose Manalo entered the game midway through the third quarter and made the difference for the SMART-White team to finally take the lead.

But he did not play. In fact, Manalo subbed in as a referee, showing his funny antics by pulling off jokes and making ridiculous, but hilarious, calls to favor his team to come back, including a crucial triple by his teammate Smart Gilas standout Chris Tiu which he changed into a four-point shot – the first of such in the history of basketball. And instead of being mad with all these things happening, everyone in the court and the fans loved it.

Instead of winning, enjoying the game and entertaining the fans are obviously what the college hoop stars and celebrities had in mind as they step in the court and play in a charity game intended to help Sendong Victims dubbed as ‘Fastbreak’ Friday at the San Juan Arena. The SMART-White team prevailed over the Meralco-Red, 118-107.

“It was fun, lots of fun,” Tiu told Rappler.com. “I thought it would be more serious but it was really, purely entertainment. Most of the guys were just joking around trying to make the fans happy.”

(Players and celebrities share their thoughts about Fastbreak and Tropical Storm Sendong. Video courtesy of  Rappler.com)

Dancer Jhong Hilario and Ateneo’s Justin Chua scored 16 points apiece, while UAAP Rookie of the Year and event organizer Kiefer Ravena had 14 points to lead the White team.

After a fiery exchange of baskets in a loosely defended game, Meralco-Red finally pulled away in the second quarter, dropping a 22-10 bomb capped by a buzzer-beating triple by actor Gerald Anderson, who always ignite screams from fans in the arena every time he touches the ball, to end the first half with a commanding 62-50 cushion.

ABS-CBN celebrity Gerald Anderson shows his hardcourt talent.

But the White team made a comeback in the third quarter, thanks to Manalo’s sudden entry in the game as a referee. After making calls favorable to his team, the White team finally took the lead after the third quarter, 87-86.

Since then, the White team controlled the whole game, with Manalo and Ravena rifling two treys each late in the final quarter to seal the victory.

Ravena thanked those who helped him to make the event happen, and even said he is willing to organize another game as such.

“Pero ayaw na nating maulit yung trahedya,” Ravena said.

There were also a lot of festivities in halftime, with PBA legend Allan Caidic winning the three-point shootout against PBA D-League hotshot Chris Ellis, 11-8. Caidic won P5,000 pesos, which, along with the proceeds of the game, will be donated to the victims of Sendong.

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