Keiandre Arrington and Ronny Murillo are cousins who are housed in West Block at The Q.
They both play for the Intramural League team “Hit Squad.” However, in the All-Star game, they played against each other.
Murillo scored 32 points, three rebounds, one assist, five steals and was voted the All-Star game’s Most Valuable Player. Arrington scored 31-points, 21 re- bounds, three blocks and was voted Most Outstanding Player of the losing team.
“I felt unstoppable. I was knocking everything down,” said Murillo, who also goes by A.I. “Some people thought all I do is shoot, so I went to the rim and now they know my offensive game is balanced.”
The league has seven teams, so players were picked at random, pitting teammates against one another. The teams were picked by league referees Ismael Freelon and Robert Lee.
“This is one of the best All-Star games I’ve ever played in,” said Top Shotta’z Jamal “Do It All” Harrison. “It was fun and competitive. I’m really proud of A.I. and Big Baby (Arrington). They showed their a—-s off today, big time.”
Team Ishmael came out running, taking an early 10-point lead, which eventually grew to a 27 by half-time.
In the fourth quarter, Lee put together four players from The Franchise, the league’s number one team. They cut deep into the lead, bringing the teams within three points with under two minutes left.
In the final two minutes, the game came down to fouls and free throws. This is where Murillo earned his MVP status, knocking down six free throws and securing victory for Team Freelon 89-84.
“When I play basketball, whether for the SQ Warriors or in the Intramural league, I don’t feel like I’m in prison. It takes me somewhere else, makes me feel good,” Arrington said. “That’s how the All-Star game felt, it felt like freedom.”
