Master Game Face Challenge Year 2

As a kid growing up, one of my dreams was to play basketball for a living. Playing in the PBA would have been my greatest achievement. Unfortunately, that never materialized due to my lack of skills and talents in balling. However, Master Facial Wash gave me an opportunity to play and compete with high-caliber talents from the UAAP, NCAA, and PBA. There was no way I was passing on the chance to play with/against Jean-Marc Pingris (San Mig Coffee) and Chris Tiu (Rain or Shine) from the PBA. Wait. What? How'd this happen?

Year 2 of the Master Game Face Challenge was launched this past Thursday!

Well, I was invited as part of the media to cover the Master Game Face Challenge Year 2 launch on April 24 held at the Treston International College Gym in Bonifacio Global City. This event would promote Master Facial Wash and Face Cleaners along with the introduction of two all-star basketball teams named Team Marc and Team Chris. Free food (catered by T.G.I. Fridays) was served to the guests, and the main program involved a 3-on-3 basketball exhibition teaser. The teams were composed of Marc Pingris and his selected guys (Andre Paras, Roi Sumang, Jericho Cruz) going against Chris Tiu and his boys (Jeron Teng, Kevin Ferrer, and Mike Tolomia). Sounds normal right? For the most part, yes, until they included ONE media guy to play with each all-star team. There were four teams in the mini-tournament, and the first to get two wins would be crowned the winners.

Guess what? I was lucky enough to be chosen to participate together with my friend Enzo Flojo (@hoopnut) and two other guys from the media: Ivan Saldejeno of Sportyguy.info and Alex Estoesta of Slam Magazine. Enzo and I were going to play with Team Marc, which was broken down into 2 teams. I played with Andre Paras and Roi Sumang, while Enzo was paired with Marc Pingris and Jericho Cruz. Our first game would be against Enzo's team, and the winner would play against the winner of Team Chris and his teams.

Obligatory pre-game selfie in the men's room.

I was very nervous about playing with great talents, plus the cameras and hundreds of guests frazzled my confidence. Needless to say, I'm not used to this kind of atmosphere when playing ball. I was getting goosebumps and my fingers were numb from anticipation and worry even before the whistle blew for our first game.

Rolly + Paras + Sumang = Win!

Kevin Ferrer looks on.

The game was a very quick 3-minute stint using a running clock, and my team was very fortunate to eke out a win by the score of 4-3. I took one shot, which I badly missed, while Enzo made two baskets (both against me). It helped our team that Kuya Ping could not participate fully in the game because he was nursing injured ribs, and he had an important PBA game this coming weekend. Meanwhile, Andre Paras and Roi Sumang gave our team the advantage, and I was happy to win at least one game.

For the Finals, our team was slotted against Jeron Teng, Mike Tolomia, and Alex Estoesta. Marc Pingris acted as our coach and urged us to play our best and to take the game seriously. His words worked wonders as our team led the whole game and won, 4-2. Roi Sumang and Andre Paras showed us why they are stars in the UAAP, and having a career in the professional league for both guys is not out of the question.

Jeron Teng and Mike Tolomia led their team to the final game.

Team Marc (gray) beat Team Chris (black) in the final game.

As for my contributions, in 6 minutes of work, I had zero points (0-1 FG), 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 turnover and 1 foul (I felt more pain even though I committed the foul on Jericho Cruz). Not bad for a media guy right?

Boom Gonzales wraps everything up.

The whole experience was quite exciting and memorable for me. Team Marc was composed of affable and down-to-earth guys that were joking around in the backstage. Marc Pingris is extremely funny, very charismatic, and he doesn't mind conversing with fans and the media. The Master Game Face Challenge is an event that I will never forget.

Oh by the way, as prize for winning the exhibition, I was given a brand new Samsung Galaxy S5 (along with a lot more free goodies for my face) for pretty much running around the court while my teammates made all the shots. Thank you Master Game Face Challenge, and see you again next year!

Thank you Master for all the free goodies! Yes, that's the Samsung Galaxy S5!

During the launch, Unilever’s Male Grooming Brand Manager Jonathan Pua made the following statement:

“As the no. 1 male face care, male facial wash and face cleanser brand in the country, it is natural for us to come up with an activity featuring the no. 1 sport – basketball. We are proud to invite fans to the Araneta Center on June 21 for the Master Game Face All-Star Basketball Challenge, where Master ambassadors Chris Tiu and Marc Pingris will battle in an epic showdown with their respective squads of top collegiate hoops players and all-star players from the Gilas team and professional basketball groups. It will be a good venue to showcase how top Filipino basketball players put their oil-free game faces on with Master Oil Control Max Facial Wash.”

(image from Master Philippines)

Under the helm of former Ateneo Blue Eagle, former Gilas Pilipinas team captain, and current Rain or Shine player Chris Tiu are UAAP basketball stars Jeron Teng (DLSU), Chris Newsome (ADMU), Kevin Ferrer (UST), and Mike Tolomia (FEU).

The starting five for Team Chris.
(image from Master Philippines)

On the other end of the spectrum, current Gilas Pilipinas and PBA power forward Marc Pingris leads a cast of promising young players, namely: Andre Paras (UP), Roi Sumang (UE), Jeoffrey Javillonar (NU), and Jericho Cruz (AdU).

The starting five for Team Marc.
(image from Master Philippines)

Along with the unveiling of the starting five players, Master also announced the launch of an online app for basketball fans to vote from a selection of all-star players from the professional league to join Team Chris and Team Marc. Fans can vote by logging on to facebook.com/MasterPhilippines and by clicking on the Master Game Face application. The online voting began last April 24, and the complete team rosters will be announced on a special draft to be held on May 31.

Team Chris or Team Marc?
(screencap from the Master Game Face Challenge app)

Whom will you pick?
(screencap from the Master Game Face Challenge app)

All Gilas guys to complete Team Marc!
(screencap from the Master Game Face Challenge app)

If you’re still wondering why Unilever went through all this trouble to hold this big event, here’s why:

With a complete line of face care products including facial wash, face cleansers, and face moisturizers for the highly competitive sportsman, Master takes basketball to a whole new level. Oil can definitely reduce a player’s effectiveness in any game – especially in basketball. This was featured in the latest commercial of Master Facial Wash where both Chris Tiu and Marc Pingris battled it out with their oil-free game faces on thanks to Master.

Boosting anti-oil protection, Master Oil Control Max Facial Wash has the revolutionary Cooling ZEROIL formula that controls oil for 8 hours for that fresh game face look to bring out the best in anyone’s game – even off the court. Get 8 hours of no oil with Master Facial Wash, so you can put your game face on! You can also fight deep-seated dirt that causes pimples with Master Oil Control Max Deep Cleanser. For more details about Master products and about the Master Game Face All-Star Basketball Challenge, visit facebook.com/MasterPhilippines.

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