Laoag hosts PBA All Stars

MANILA, Philippines - Barely four days after the blockbuster PBA Commissioner’s Cup comes the PBA All-Star Week, the league’s mid-season spectacle, which  also promises to be a smash hit when it goes up north in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

James Yap, Jimmy Alapag and the other major stars in the just concluded B-Meg-Talk n Text finale lead the huge PBA delegation traveling to Ilocos for the keenly awaited event set May 10-13.

League commissioner Chito Salud and chairman Mamerto Mondragon head the main bulk leaving Manila via a PAL flight this afternoon.

Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio has become a part of the group, taking over from Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes the job to call the shots for the Veterans team which will be up against the Rookies/Sophomores/Juniors stars in the main game of the All-Star spectacle Sunday at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena.

Reyes will miss the event as he’s leaving for a business trip to the US.

Meanwhile, Mark Caguioa, Kelly Williams and Marc Pingris, who were voted to the Veterans team, will not be able to play due to injuries.

Caguioa and Pingris nonetheless promised to be on the sidelines during the game. Williams won’t make it as he is to undergo a procedure on his injury.

Picked to take Caguioa’s and Williams’ spots in the Veterans’ starting unit were Gary David and Ranidel de Ocampo.

Larry Fonacier and Jason Castro also begged off due to injuries, but the rest are looking forward to a weekend of fun, thrill and excitement.

PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial, who led the league’s advanced party in Ilocos, said the north’s crown city is all agog and abuzz with the event.

Ilocos City administrator Perry Martinez, a former PBA technical chief, said tickets for both the All-Star Friday and All-Star Weekend have been sold-out.

The All-Star Friday will be highlighted by the Legends Game that replaced the Rookies-versus-Sophomores Blitz Game.

Former stars Allan Caidic, Kenneth Duremdes, Bong Ravena, Johnny Abarrientos and Leandro Isaac team up with Mac Cardona, Asi Taulava, Cyrus Baguio, Jeff Chan, PJ Simon and Sean Anthony play for the Stalwarts that go up against the Greats featuring four-time MVP Alvin Patrimonio, Ato Agustin, Jojo Lastimosa, Olsen Racela, Danny Ildefonso, Nino Canaleta, Danny Seigle, Joseph Yeo, Willie Miller, Mike Cortez, and Sol Mercado.

On Sunday, Yap, JC Intal and Jimmy Alapag join forces with the Veterans team taking on the “RSJs” led bannered by top rookies Jayvee Casio, Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz.

David, Arwind Santos, LA Tenorio, Alex Cabagnot, Gabe Norwood and Sonny Thoss are also in the Veterans lineup while Dylan Ababou, Josh Urbiztondo, Japeth Aguilar, Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Mac Baracael, Rico Maierhofer, Mark Barroca, Chris Ross and Paul Lee complete the RSJ cast.

Powerade’s Bo Perasol handles the RSJs.

The Obstacle Challenge and Three-Point Shootout will be held as side-events of Team Greats vs. Team Stalwarts while the Shooting Stars and Slam Dunk contest are set as appetizers for Sunday’s All-Star game.

Basketball clinics for kids (to be supervised by NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez), coaches clinic (to be conducted by coaches Perasol and Gregorio), referees clinic (to be supervised by Ramil Cruz, PBA’s supervisor of officials), hospital visit and street party have also been included in the calendar of activities.

Hosting the PBA All-Star Week for the second time in seven years, the City of Laoag led by Mayor Michael Farinas and the province of Ilocos Norte under Governor Imee Marcos is rolling out the red carpet for the entire PBA family and basketball fans.