Cardona tops loaded All-Star cast, wins Game MVP plum.

Air21 guard Mike Cortez dishes off a pass against the defense of Talk ‘N Text foward Rabeh Al-Hussaini in the PBA Blue vs Green Dream Match 2: The Revenge on Sunday. (FCF / Vyn Radovan)

Just like old times, the green and white had it their way again.

(FCF / Ken Koo)

Mark Cardona led the Green squad composed of De La Salle University alumni past their Ateneo de Manila University counterparts, 111-108, in the Philippine Basketball Association Blue vs Green Dream Game 2: The Revenge at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.

In a squad composed of big names from three generations of Green Archers greats, it was “Captain Hook” who shined the brightest, scoring 29 points on 11-for-24 shooting from the field en route to Game MVP honors. Rain or Shine forward Ryan Araña added 21 points, while Carlo Sharma added 14 points in the post to round out the scoring leaders.

Unlike old times, though, the match was light-hearted through most of the contest until the fourth quarter when the blue shirts mounted a comeback led by Chris Tiu to snatch their biggest lead at four, 101-97 with four and a half remaining in the match.

But with that haymaker from the Blue Eagles came a bigger response from the Archers, courtesy of Cardona’s nine straight points to give the green and white shirts the lead for good.

Rain or Shine guard Chris Tiu fired 29 points, with a 3-for-7 shooting clip from beyond the arc, together with five assists. Former UAAP MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini tallied 26 points and seven boards in the loss for the Eagles, who missed the services of Larry Fonacier, Japeth Aguilar, LA Tenorio, and head coach Norman Black due to their commitments to the national team.

BOX SCORE
GREEN (111): Cardona 29, Araña 21, Sharma 14, Allado 11, Gaco 9, Maierhofer 7, Yeo 7, Cortez 6, Tang 5, Atkins 2, Ritualo 0, Casio 0.
BLUE (108): Tiu 29, Al-Hussaini 26, Gonzales 13, Membrere 10, Intal 9, Baclao 6, Alvarez 6, Monfort 5, Bugia 4.
QUARTERS: 27-28, 59-57, 87-79, 111-108.