Minda braces for first All-Star

A first ever for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), a historic one for Mindanao.

In essence, that’s what the 2006 Hope Cigarette PBA All-Star weekend is all about as Misamis Oriental plays host to the mid-season spectacle starting tomorrow until Saturday.

The event brings for the first time the annual classic deep down South since Ramon Fernandez and Robert Jaworski connived in a last-second play to power the Veterans past the Rookies-Sophomores in a classic 1989 win during the league’s initial All-Star game.

It also marks what league commissioner Noli Eala described as the fulfillment of the PBA going truly national in scope, having brought the All-Star weekend within the three major islands in the country after Visayas in 2004 (Cebu) and Luzon (Laoag) just a year ago.

For Misamis Oriental, hosting the meet in cooperation with Xtreme Magic Sing and Welcoat Paints, goes beyond just basketball.

"Ang gusto talaga namin is to bring the All-Star weekend in Mindanao in order to have the PBA commune with the people of Northern Mindanao and the rest of the region. That to me is an honor that will never be equalled," said Gov. Oscar Moreno.

Staging the All-Star game is also an opportunity to showcase the province’s ability to lead and organize an event of such magnitude, according to Moreno, noting that Misamis Oriental is not lacking in people known for their quality of leadership, having been the birthplace of former vice-president Emmanuel Pelaez who was elected to the second highest position in the land during the 1961 national elections.

That election manifested the respect, the admiration in Misamis Oriental," said the amiable governor.

"We want to regain that position of leadership, that pride, dignity, the respect. And this is part of that continuing effort.

"So natutuwa talaga ako that everybody in Misamis Oriental and also in Cagayan de Oro (capital city) are excited and looking forward to this very historic occasion."

"Of course, Mindanao’s third largest province wouldn’t be remiss on the basketball part of the event also supported by Sunbolt Fun Drinks, Chowking, Mentos, ACCEL and Air 21.

Mindanao has produced PBA players in the past," said Moreno, citing the likes of Purefoods teammates Jun Limpot and Peter June Simon. "

Walang biro, Mindanao is basketball crazy."

The governor said just about everybody, from the government to the private sector, are now involve in the preparations with less than two weeks to go before the All-Star weekend.

We have organized a multi-sectoral team that will oversee the hosting, address all the issues and attend to all the matters," disclosed Moreno.

He said the hosting chore is a joint venture among the people of Misamis Oriental, the league of municipalities, provincial councilors league and provincial mayors.

Bobby Malo, president of the Mayor’s League, co-heads the committee with Eden Huang from the private sector.

Like in basketball, this is where we’re able to practice the virtue of teamwork to make the event a successful one," said Moreno.

The main bulk of the PBA delegation will arrive in Misamis Oriental on tomorrow.

On the 28th, fans will be treated to an array of basketball competitions, including the skills shot, obstacle challenge, three-point shootout and the hit slam dunk contest before the day is capped with the second Rookies-Sophomores Blitz Game.

The following day is the featured event of the All-Stare weekend pitting the North team vs. the South squad. The Southerners won in the 2004 edition of the All-Stars before their North counterparts exacted revenge in Laoag a year ago. (ENDIT)