THE THREE-leg Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All-Star festivities kick off today in Digos, Davao del Sur, for the Mindanao stretch of the midseason classic.
Set for 7:30 p.m. at the Davao Del Sur Coliseum, the headlining match will pit the PBA Mindanao All-Stars against members of the national team.
Leading All-Star Mindanao are starters Mac Belo of Blackwater, Peter June Simon, Jio Jalalon and Mark Barroca of Magnolia and Scottie Thompson of Barangay Ginebra.
Coming off the bench are Baser Amer of Meralco, Sonny Thoss of Alaska, Cyrus Baguio of NLEX, Rafi Reavis of Magnolia, JP Erram of Blackwater, RR Garcia of TNT and Carlo Lastimosa of Columbian.
Coaching the Mindanao All-Stars is Tim Cone of Barangay Ginebra.
Bannering the national team, meanwhile, are June Mar Fajardo of the San Miguel Beermen, Japeth Aguilar of Barangay Ginebra, Troy Rosario of TNT, Calvin Abueva and Carl Bryan Cruz of Alaska.
Joining them are Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine, Allein Maliksi of Blackwater, Matthew Wright of the Phoenix, Roger Pogoy, Jayson Castro and Terrence Romeo of TNT, and Kiefer Ravena of NLEX.
Apart from the main All-Star Game, fans in Davao will also be treated to a Legends Shootout event that will feature four shooting tandems, namely that of PBA legend Allan Caidic and Bong Go, who is the Special Assistant to President Rodrigo R. Duterte; Kenneth Duremdes and Senator Manny Pacquiao; Cotabato’s pride Simon and Presidential son-in-law Mans Carpio; and Davao native Thompson and Major Michael Sabsal.
Also on tap during the festivities are various clinics, courtesy calls, motorcades, outreach program, and meet-and-greet activities.
“It’s an honor and privilege to be the host of the 2018 All-Star Game opener. We hope to give PBA fans a treat and set the perfect stage for another exciting week of basketball ahead,” said Davao del Sur Governor Mark Cagas of the event to be played in their home turf.
Following today’s All-Star leg the festivities move to Batangas City on Friday, May 25, for the Luzon stretch before concluding on Sunday, May 27, in Iloilo City for the Visayas leg.
Meanwhile, just as the PBA hit the All-Star break, Magnolia star guard Paul Lee was named player of the week.
Averaged 18.5 points, seven assists, 2.5 rebounds and a steal in the Hotshots’ last two games, Mr. Lee helped Magnolia continue with its ascent and improve to 3-1 after starting its PBA Commissioner’s Cup campaign with a loss.
In winning the weekly plum, Mr. Lee beat out teammate Barroca, Vic Manuel of Alaska, TNT’s Ryan Reyes, Rain or Shine’s Chris Tiu and Phoenix’s Jeff Chan and Mr. Wright. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo