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As basketball lovers filled the stands Friday evening at Vare Recreation Center, 2600 Morris St., Anton Moore smiled like a satisfied child on Christmas morning.
His delight, though, stemmed from his preference for giving over receiving, with the Unity in the Community founder and president furthering his philanthropic identity by calling on colleagues to contest the inaugural Ball 4 Peace, one of two athletic events during his organization’s Peace Week festivities. Mounting a second-half comeback, a team of North and South Philly ballers downed the South Philly squad 75-71.
“Basketball means so much to the people in this neighborhood, so I thought I’d put together a game to remind everyone that we can also use sports to promote peace,” Moore, of 20th Street and Snyder Avenue, said. “I’m really looking forward to a nice night of competition and fun.”
The West Passyunk dweller used friendships to recruit hoops heroes for the affair, which followed an afternoon clinic with 76ers personnel at the same location. Orchestrating five annual charity events through his five-year-old brainchild, he especially lauded the second Peace Week’s effects on fostering responsibility for one’s actions and respect for others’ dignity.
“There is so much energy this year because people seem really interested in finally tackling violence diligently,” Moore said while standing by a banner bearing the advice “Embrace life, not guns.” “I’d really like to make Peace Week a citywide celebration because many areas need healing.”
Philadelphia this year has experienced a significant decline in homicides, with 151 as of press time, compared to 210 at this point last year. Moore had called for more accord during July 29’s Peace Rally and March from Wharton Square Park, 2300 Wharton St., to Stinger Square, 1400 S. 32nd St., and joined Friday’s crowd to cheer for fellow believers in his view of sports as an agent of change.
“I never missed one of his high school games, so I’m eager to see how he does here,” Sharif Fuller, of the 2300 block of South Croskey Street, said as Jason Saab, a product of South Philadelphia High School, 2101 S. Broad St., and Cheyney University, took to the court with his South Philly teammates.
The 20th-Street-and-Snyder-Avenue native joined his peers in astounding their supporters with tireless athleticism. He tallied six points and confidently distributed the sphere, too, including a gorgeous layup-yielding pass to Earl Pettis, of Ss. Neumann-Goretti High School, 1736 S. 10th St., and La Salle University, to close the first half and stake the local bunch to a 40-30 intermission boost.
“He definitely didn’t disappoint,” Fuller, with his 6-year-old son Shafeek at his side, said of Saab. “Maybe the second [half] will be even crazier.”
The excited fan and his offspring fraternized with neighborhood acquaintances during the break, which included refreshment giveaways, a spirited three-point contest featuring local youths and a dancing performance by members of the Young Chances Foundation.
“We try to do whatever we can to create and encourage positive feelings in the community,” founder Tyrique Glasgow, of the 1500 block of South Etting Street, said. “We owe it to the kids to give them role models they can look up to.”
The Grays Ferry product has become one such paragon after escaping an existence that included five years in jail and 11 gunshot wounds. He and Moore thanked the attendees and the athletes for their commitment to harmonious unions and settled in to see if the latter figures could honor Fuller’s hopes for even speedier action. To the chagrin of many fans, Saab did not return to the game, and the trailing unit took advantage by converting interior chances and perimeter heaves. Highlight reel-worthy plays became a constant, with both teams treating their advocates to rapid tempo revelry.
“It’s exciting, isn’t it?” Moore asked a group of children as the South Philly team took a breather after having its lead trimmed to four with five minutes to go. “What do you think is going to happen?”
The youngsters correctly predicted the combined North and South Philly stars would grab the edge. Securing a 72-71 advantage with 53 seconds remaining, they played tight defense and rattled the South Philly representatives, who soon needed to go from the desired role of consolers to the consoled.
“Stuff like this is always good because we have to help people to direct their energy to having good opportunities,” Pettis, a Vare league registrant, said.
The product of the 1500 block of South 15th Street led the losers with 15 points and spoke glowingly about maintaining the evening’s momentum, which Moore et al did Saturday with the Sixth annual Unity in the Community Block Party at 20th Street and Snyder Avenue. With another peace-promoting venture completed, Moore spoke of making a video of the week’s highlights to use as promotional material in pitching his work as a larger call for choosing tranquility over hostility.
“I’ve heard from people in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Baltimore and other places that want to duplicate this,” he said as he shared handshakes and hugs with friends. “That amazes me, so I’m looking to keep it going in Philly and helping kids to make right decisions.”
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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