Sunny Boracay hosts PBA All Stars

MANILA, Philippines - Themselves awed by the 2011 NBA All-Star festivities, top officials of the Philippine Basketball Association now look forward to a grand ball in the staging of its 2011 All-Star Week on May 18-23.

It could really be a great spectacle with no less than the island paradise of Boracay chosen to host the first PBA All-Star Week under league commissioner Chito Salud.

There will also be outreach programs to be held in the nearby Carabao Island.

The keenly awaited mid-season classic will be dubbed “Hala Bora!” hinting at non-stop fun, thrill and excitement through the six-day event.

“Just everybody who hears that it’s going to be in Boracay is excited to be there,” said Salud.

“Emphasis is on outreach program. We’ll also hold a beach party where our players will mingle with the local and foreign tourists. This is one way of helping promote the country’s tourism program,” Salud also said.

The All-Star Game pitting the North stars and the South stars highlights the festivities on May 23. Balloting for the starting fives of both teams start Feb. 27.  

It will be the 22nd edition of the PBA All-Star Week since it was institutionalized in 1989. The Veterans squad then of coach Baby Dalupan nipped the Rookies-Sophomores-Juniors team, 132-130. Boy Cabahug, a player from the losing team, was the winner of the MVP plum.

Last year, the North All-Stars nosed out their South counterparts, 133-132, with Gabe Norwood winning the MVP honors in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

“I look forward to a grand ball. Aside from the usual events, we’ll hold outreach programs that include tree-planting, coastal cleanup, hospital visits and basketball clinics,” said Salud.

A possible addition in the side events is a slam dunk contest among PBA imports.

“We’ll take a look at our imports. Baka may magagaling sa slam dunk, eh di paglaban-labanin namin,” Salud said.

Last year, Nino Canaleta topped a stellar cast of slam-dunkers to pocket an unprecedented fourth crown.

Mark Macapagal, on the other hand, ruled the three-point shootout.

Meanwhile, the PBA has crafted the format for the inaugural staging of the PBA Developmental League which unwraps March 12 at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.

The 14 participating teams are divided into two groups, playing single round in each bracket in the preliminary phase.

The top teams from each group automatically make the semifinals with the rest left to dispute the two remaining semis berths in knockout playoffs.

The semis will also be a pair of KO games with the winners disputing the crown in a best-of-three championship series.

Bracketed in Group A are Black Water (Arellano Chiefs), City of Antipolo, Freego (Adamson Falcons), Metro Pacific Toll Corp. (San Sebastian Stags), Pacific Pipes, Pharex and PC Gilmore.

Comprising Group B are Ani, Café France (CEU), Cebu Lhuillier, Cobra, Max Bond (UST Tigers), Maynilad Water (San Beda) and Powerade (UP Maroons).

Submission of lineup is March 4.