Allan Caidic puts on a shooting clinic before a group of NBA stars during the 2010 NBA Asia Challenge late Friday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

NBA stars Chris Webber, Gary Payton, Mitch Richmond and Glen Rice watched in awe as that old gunslinger named Allan Caidic shot the lights out at the Araneta Coliseum Friday.

A year after making an impression on the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Dominique Wilkins, Caidic turned the NBA legends into believers, making shots after shots from afar.

The 47-year-old Caidic, now an assistant coach of Barangay Ginebra, erupted for 54 points as the Red Team came out victorious over the White Team, 177-167, in the 2010 NBA Asia Challenge.

In just 24 minutes, the many-time RP team member and 1990 PBA Most Valuable Player converted 14-of-26 from rainbow country as he obliged to almost every passes made by Payton, Rice, D-Leaguers Darnell Lazare and Chris McCray and local teammates.

One of Caidic’s triples came on one of six assists from Payton, who lifted both hands even before he converted the shot.

“It’s fun playing with the PBA players, especially with this guy right here,” described Payton, who was seated next to Caidic during the postgame press conference. “We just kept feeding him and we heard a lot of stories that he is the truth so it was fun.”

“They gave me the ball so I have to shoot it. I’m also open so I have to make it,” Caidic said. “I really prepared for this game and good thing I was able to deliver.”

Caidic actually fell three shy of the PBA record he set on November 21, 1991, unloading 17-of-27 threes and 79 points, an all-time mark for a local, for Tivoli in a 162-149 victory over Ginebra San Miguel. He also made 15 on Nov. 2, 1989 when Presto downed Alaska in overtime, 175-159.

“Watching a guy that really put on a show named ‘Trigger’ was really exciting,” said Rice, who lost to Caidic, 7-5, in a special three-point shooting contest during one lull.

“I was in awe so I think he’s going to come back and sign a two-year contract with San Miguel,” joked former PBA import Richie Frahm, who led the White team with 24 points, sharing top scoring honors with Webber.

“’The Triggerman’ was just incredible,” said Webber, who had 11 boards. “I mean, he shot the ball well and each time we were trying put our hands on each other's face but he still was able to make those shots.”

It was a night to reminisce for most of the fans and even PBA players and officials alike.

Aside from Caidic, there was four-time PBA MVP Alvin Patrimonio bulldozing his way inside over current star Arwind Santos and Vergel Meneses, now a coach of his alma mater JRU in NCAA, showing glimpses of his trademark layups.

The White squad’s Ronnie Magsanoc dishing one of his game-high 14 assists to former Shell teammate Benjie Paras for a medium-range jumper.

Also getting attention was the Red Team’s Atoy Co but only because he kept on missing shots. After so many attempts in the first quarter he was able to make one, unfortunately, it came after the buzzer had sounded.

He later hit his first jumper in the second period and finished with 10 points on a 5-of-21 shooting.

Co, whose missed shots were delivered mostly by Payton, gamely kneeled to the ground at one point, perhaps pleading for consistency from the outside.

“I tell you what, to be in any age to play this game is a blessing and an honor so to see Fortune Cookie (Co) out there shooting and still going and one time is he shot and he was like, “Check up Chris!” and I said ‘Ok!’,” said Webber.

The NBA stars also showed up their trademark moves such as Webber slamming the ball with authority, Rice and Richmond uncorking outside shots and Payton attempting to do those crazy passes like he once did to Shawn Kemp with the Seattle Supersonics.

The scores:
RED 177 — Caidic 54, Lazare 22, Rice 19, Santos 16, Meneses 16, Maierhofer 15, McCray 11, Co 10, Tenorio 7, Payton 7.
WHITE 167 — Frahm 24, Webber 24, Tyndale 22, Hontiveros 20, Paras 18, Magsanoc 18, Patrimonio 16, Richmond 16, Tubid 13.
Quarters: 38-44; 92-94; 124-124; 177-167.