Published: August 13, 2006
QUEENS, N.Y.
Former St. John's men's basketball standout Felipe Lopez
returned to his alma mater on Saturday afternoon, as he and a host
of celebrities and performing artists hosted the first annual Felipe Lopez Celebrity
Basketball Classic at Carnesecca Arena. A crowd of 2,014 turned
out to watch the blue team, coached by WNBA star Teresa
Weatherspoon, run away in the second half to defeat the white team,
58-44.
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Musical group Clique followed Kenny "The Human Orchestra"
Muhammad with the singing of the national anthem and then sang to
Lopez at halfcourt during the intermission. The Beatnuts also
performed some of their hits at the break, getting an enthusiastic
crowd ready for a second 15-minute half.
Clique was one of the fan favorites of the night, winning
spectators with their rendition of the national anthem and then
singing to a sitting Lopez during halftime. The group, consisting
of Paris Monroe, 10, Destinee Monroe, 12, and Ariel Moore, 12,
performed twice without musical accompaniment and received a
rousing applause after their halftime performance.
In the second period, DJ Clue and Dee Morris led the blue team
on a deciding run to start the second half. As the final seconds
ran off the clock, New York Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury
appeared before the crowd to say a few words of support for the
Felipe Lopez Foundation.
"It went beautifully," Lopez said of the event. "I think people
were surprised with the things that we had. By doing all of this,
it's only going to help us get better and improve as a community.
At the end of the day, I think we put out a good product, and I
think when we put it out next year, people are going to be able to
support it the right way."
The ultimate winners were the beneficiaries of the Felipe Lopez
Foundation, as the organization raised money to support its
objective of encouraging healthy lifestyles and education for
low-income and Latino youth in New York City and providing funding
for young children involved in sports.
"It's very important," pop duo Nina Sky said of the game and its
cause. "We're inner-city youth, and we grew up in Queens. Any
foundation that's giving back to the community where we grew up, we
always try and get involved."
Lopez, who first starred at St. John's and then for the NBA's
Vancouver Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves, excited his
hometown crowd and delivered the message of his foundation. Prior
to the start of the game, that message held true, as kids from the
five boroughs, New Jersey and Long Island all got to shoot for the
opportunity to make $100 donations to the foundation in their
names.
"We're going to continue our work with St. John's," said Lopez.
"Coach Carnesecca did a great job with us, staying patient and
making sure we could be successful, and we definitely look forward
to doing it again here."