PBA stars to face Asia's best

Imagine this: Asi Taulava swatting away a hook by Wang Zhizhi, Eric Menk beating Michael Takahashi for the looseball, then hurling a fastbreak to Johnny Abarrientos who dishes out an assist to Kenneth Duremdes for a slam off the defending Hur Jae.

Another play could be: Marlou Aquino beating Yao Ming for the rebound, Olsen Racela bringing the ball downcourt against Kang Dong Hee and Sonny Alvarado eluding Yaseem Mahmoud off a pick by Alvin Patrimonio for a three-pointer.

These scenarios suggest a showdown between the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All Stars against the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) All Stars.

A far-fetched idea? Not at all.

The ABC Promotions Ltd. is now negotiating with PBA officials for the staging of the ABC All-Star spectacle in the country this year, pitting the ABC All Stars against the cream of the PBA crop.

Everything is still up for discussion but a reliable source said PBA officials are leaning towards accepting the rare offer to play in the ABC All-Star Game which marks its fourth staging this year.

It's the Philippines' turn to host the event this year, but the same source added the ABC people may opt to bring the event to another place if they don't get the nod of the PBA, which they feel could field the only worthy team against the ABC All Stars.

The source, however, did not say whether the ABC had asked for the blessing of the Basketball Association of the Philippines, the country's governing body of amateur basketball, to deal with the PBA or not.

Seoul hosted the first staging of the spectacle in 1997 before Taipei took its turn in 1998 then Guangzhou last year.

The ABC All Stars, composed of the best players in the region, hold a 1-3 win-loss record as they bowed to the national teams of South Korea, Chinese Taipei and China, picking up their lone win against the Chinese Basketball Alliance selection that was reinforced by two American imports.

MBA ace Romel Adducul of the Manila Metrostars is the lone Filipino cager to have seen action in the event, having been named to all the three previous ABC All-Star teams.

Players likely to banner the ABC All Stars this year are China's Hu Weing Dong, Wang Zhizhi and Yao Ming, South Korea's Hur Jae, Chung Hee Chul and Kang Dong Hee, Japan's Michael Takahashi, Chinese Taipei's Cheng Chi Luh and Qatar's Yaseem Mahmoud.

The STAR source said the PBA is likely to accept the invitation, considering the fact that it can add the event to a number of activities being lined up for the grand celebration of its silver anniversary this season.

If ever, the bulk of the Centennial teamers will have a reunion, leading a cast that may well have a number of Fil-Am standouts like Taulava, Alvarado and Menk. -