Team Pacquiao suffered a close defeat against Team Fade, 93-99, during an exhibition game at the Al Nasr Sports Club’s Rashid Bin Hamdan Indoor Hall in Dubai. The match, held Monday night (Tuesday morning in Manila), drew a large audience as basketball legends and standout players showcased their skills.
Led by Lebanese icon Fadi El Khatib and Asian standout Wael Arakji, Team Fade capitalized on a strong finish, outscoring Team Pacquiao 9-3 in the final two minutes. Khatib dominated the court with an impressive 42 points, 24 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Arakji contributed 31 points, 11 assists, and 6 rebounds. Supporting the duo was Said Ahmad, who added 16 points and 7 rebounds.
For Team Pacquiao, Wilson Baltazar shone with 27 points and 10 rebounds, while Joshua Dela Cruz recorded 17 points and 10 rebounds. David Sisson and Emmer Oreta also delivered solid performances with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Manny Pacquiao, who played for just over nine minutes due to a calf injury, managed only three points. The team, coached by Rudy Distrito, relied on contributions from Paolo Ramirez and Jun Bonsubre, with Bonsubre grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds.
