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Friday, April 28, 2006
Rookies face Sophomores today
* Skills competition, blitz game usher in All-Star action
IT'S finally show time for the PBA's brightest and finest stars in the league's annual All-Star spectacle here.
Action gets underway today in the 2006 Hope PBA All-Star Weekend with the staging of the Skills Events and the Rookies versus Sophomores Blitz Game at the Xavier University gym.
Niño Canaleta, Jimmy Alapag, Topex Robinson and Paolo Hubalde are all back to defend their titles in Skills Events even as the Sophies seek a repeat of their conquest of the Rookies in the Laoag edition of their duel last year.
The Skills Events and the Rookies-Sophomores contest serve as the appetizers for the much-awaited All-Star Game set Saturday in the same venue.
The first-ever All-Star extravaganza held in Mindanao reached fever pitch Thursday with the arrival of the bulk of the PBA delegation headed by league Commissioner Noli Eala, his staff and the league's stars.
During the press conference at the Misamis Oriental Capitol, the All-Star participants vowed to give the people of this province great entertainment.
"This year's All-Star festivities in your beautiful province, is a must-see event of the PBA for all basketball fans. All preparations have been made in an effort to make the extravaganza the biggest, most elaborate and most fun-filled ever," said Eala.
Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno and his people gave the PBA delegation a warm welcome and promised to provide the necessary support to ensure the success of the event hosted by the province in cooperation with X-treme Magic Sing and Welcoat Paints. The event is also supported by Sunbolt sports drink, Chowking, Mentos, Accel and Air21.
With the event back in their turf, the South All Stars expressed eagerness to get back at the North team which repulsed them in Laoag last year.
"We'll give them a tough fight. We won't allow Jayjay (Helterbrand) to once again score 37 points," said Talk n Text's Asi Taulava.
It will be remembered that the Ginebra point guard scored that much in Laoag to lead the North team to a 131-128 win over the South.
Red Bull's Enrico Villanueva, however, said they will try their best to show up the Southerners in their turf.
"So far, palaging host team ang nananalo sa All-Star Game. We'll try to break that cycle," said Villanueva.
But before Taulava and Villanueva wage their war, the league's youngsters and skills entries take center stage.
Canaleta defends his slam dunk title against former winners Cyrus Baguio and Brandon Cablay and John Arigo while Alapag goes for back-to-back three-point shootout championships against Renren Ritualo, Larry Fonacier, Mark Caguioa, James Yap, William Antonio, Olsen Racela and Nic Belasco.
Robinson stakes his Obstacle Course crown against Caguioa, Mike Cortez, Dennis Miranda, Paul Artadi, Alex Cabagnot, Dondon Hontiveros, Willie Miller and Ronald Tubid while Hubalde goes for a title-repeat in Trick Shots against Miller, Tubid, Heltebrand and Jimwell Torion.
A new event called Shooting Stars will be introduced with Arigo, Noy Castillo, Tony dela Cruz and Lordy Tugade among the participants.
The top three placers in the three-point shooting competition will team together to challenge Jojo Lastimosa, Ricric Marata and Boybits Victoria in the Legends Three-Point Challenge.
(April 28, 2006 issue)
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