All roads lead to Laoag

While the country is gearing up for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games official opening on Sunday, Laoag is in a frenzy as it hosts the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All-Star show at the Centennial Arena today and tomorrow.

The PBA delegation arrived at Laoag Airport yesterday morning and paid courtesy calls on Ilocos Norte Gov. Bong-Bong Marcos and Mayor Michael Fariñas after a motorcade.

In the afternoon, players were split into groups that toured the campuses of Northwestern University, Ilocos Norte College of Arts and Trades, Ilocos Norte National High School, Northern Christian College, Mariano Marcos State University and Divine World College.

A street party was held at Aurora Park last night to kick off the event.

This morning, the players will visit barangays in the city and give gifts to orphans, scholars and special children at the Municipal Hall.

Action gets underway with the skills competition – the trick-shot contest, three-point shootout and obstacle course – at 4:45 this afternoon. Then comes the Rookies versus Sophomores blitz game.

Alaska’s Brandon Cablay topped the trick-shot contest last season. He’s opted to relinquish his title which will be contested by Ronald Tubid, Tony de la Cruz, Dale Singson, Egay Echavez, Egay Billones, Mick Pennisi, Paolo Hubalde, Alex Cabagnot and Mark Cardona.

Entered in the three-point shootout are defending champion Tubid, Ren-Ren Ritualo, James Yap, Dondon Hontiveros, Billy Mamaril, Sunday Salvacion, Jeffrey Cariaso, Lordy Tugade, Cesar Catli and Jimmy Alapag. The top three finishers play three PBA Legends in another three-point shootout tomorrow.

Trying their luck in the obstacle course are Tubid, Cablay, Singson, Jay-Jay Helterbrand, Paul Artadi, Topex Robinson, Leo Avenido, Hubalde, Cabagnot and Cardona.

The blitz game promises to be a razzle-dazzler. Playing for the rookies are Cabagnot, Jondan Salvador, Catli, Nino Canaleta, Cardona, Larry Fonacier, Leo Najorda and Mike Holper. Ronnie Magsanoc is their coach.

The sophomores are made up of Ervin Sotto, Ranidel de Ocampo, Willie Wilson, Artadi, Gary David, Nelbert Omolon, Warren Ybanez and Nino Gelig. Bong Ramos is the coach.

The game will be played in four 10-minute quarters. In use will be a 20-second shot clock, a seven-second time line, a three-point dunk and a no foul-out rule.

After the blitz game, the players will go on a bar tour and the itinerary lists the Cock House, Tawnee’s Place and Eagle’s Nest.

Tomorrow, the players will conduct a clinic on the basketball court near the Municipal Hall at 9:30 a.m. They’ll be treated to lunch at the City Hall.

The Legends Shootout will start the program at 3 p.m. Magsanoc,Frankie Lim and Alvin Patrimonio will engage the top three finishers of the previous day’s shootout in a battle for supremacy. Reigning Legends Shootout king Allan Caidic begged off from the competition because of his duties as a sports ambassador in the SEA Games. Then, the Slam Dunk championship will be contested by Canaleta, Rich Alvarez, Enrico Villanueva, Gelig, Eugene Tejada, Holper, Marc Pingris, Neil Rañeses and Catli.

The main event featuring the North All-Stars against the South will start at 5 p.m.

The North starters are Romel Adducul, Kerby Raymundo, Pingris, Mark Caguioa and Helterbrand. Coach Ryan Gregorio’s reserves are Mamaril, de la Cruz, Cariaso, Villanueva, Cablay, Ritualo and Alvarez in injured Olsen Racela’s absence.

Starting for the South are Danny Seigle, Asi Taulava, Eric Menk, James Yap and Alapag. Coach Joel Banal’s reserves are Reynel Hugnatan, Hontiveros, Sonny Thoss, Roger Yap, John Ferriols and Tubid.