Bigger, livelier ’05 All-Stars up North mulled

This early, the Philippine Basketball Association is now thinking on again bringing the All-Star Week in the province next year following the smashing success of the annual mid-year spectacle in Cebu.

PBA commissioner Noli Eala said they will likely bring the event up north in 2005, using a bidding process to decide the host province or city.

"The bidding would not be about money. Instead, we would look at what the bidders could offer us like accommodation, playing venue and various activities they could arrange for us to reach out to our fans," said Eala.

With the event swinging to the North from the South, Eala mentioned Pampanga, Tarlac, Baguio and Laoag as among the potential hosts next year.

And while saying everything fell into place in the Cebu spectacle, Eala is still looking forward to a bigger, livelier and more exciting All-Star Week in 2005.

"There’s always room for improvement. Successful na ngayon, pero pipilitin nating mapaganda pa ang All-Star next year," said the league commissioner.

PBA executive assistant and media bureau chief Willie Marcial said the highlight All-Star Game grossed P820,000 on ticket sales. The league spent around P4 million for the whole project but it was able to cover it through sponsorships.

The PBA brought over 140 people to Cebu for the weeklong festivities that had the players doing socio-civic works, going on a campus tour, holding basketball clinics before plunging into action in the weekend.

In another development, Shell and San Miguel Beer consummated a trade deal involving reserve players Marlon Legaspi and Eric Canlas.

Meanwhile, Sta. Lucia Realty, Red Bull Barako, Shell and FedEx play in a pair of exhibition games tomorrow in Cavite City. The games start at 5 p.m.

The PBA has granted the request of Rev. Fr. Amadeo C. Lucero, VP finance and athletic moderator of San Sebastian College-Recoletos de Cavite to stage the two-day goodwill matches highlighting the inauguration of the Recoletos fourth Centennial Gymnasium in Cavite City.

"These two games only show that the teams are starting their buildup for the upcoming season," said Eala.

"The inauguration of the San Sebastian College gymnasium also comes at a appropriate time since we plan to schedule some out of town games in the province of Cavite. It means finding a venue is no longer a problem for us."

Eala also said yesterday that Agus Mauro, the commissioner of the Indonesian Basketball League, has invited him to watch the Game of the IBL’s best-of-3 championship series which begins Sunday.

"I have accepted the invitation," Eala said. " During my trip I will also

try to iron out details of our plan to play in Indonesia."

The PBA has scheduled 20 out-of-town games and possibly three games abroad during the first conference which starts Oct. 3.