Taulava to make 14th PBA All-Star appearance; Caguioa leads North

MANILA, Philippines – Asi Taulava is to play an unprecedented 14th All-Star Game, teaming up with Cebuano behemoths Junmar Fajardo and Greg Slaughter in the South team versus the Mark Caguioa-led North squad in the highlight event of the 2015 PBA All-Star Week slated March 5-8 in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

Purefoods backcourt players James Yap and Mark Barroca complete the South starting five who will be up against North starters Caguioa, Justin Melton, Marc Pingris, Calvin Abueva and Japeth Aguilar in the All-Star Game at 5:15 p.m. on March 8 at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum.

Arwind Santos and Jeff Chan, who shared the MVP honors in the All-Star Game in Digos, Davao del Sur two years ago, led the list of All-Star reserves named by the PBA coaches just Tuesday.

Santos, Paul Lee, Gabe Norwood, Terrence Romeo, Jayson Castro, Ranidel de Ocampo and Beau Belga will play off the bench for the North squad while Chan, Dondon Hontiveros, Cyrus Baguio, Reynel Hugnatan, Joe Devance, PJ Simon and Stanley Pringle compose the South reserve crew.

Jimmy Alapag, who has recently retired, is included in the South team for his farewell game in the league.

Meanwhile, Stanley, Barroca and Mark Macapagal defend their crowns in the All-Star side events set March 6.

Stanley goes for a title-repeat in the slam dunk competition against Abueva, Aguilar, Matt Ganuelas, JC Intal, Rey Guevarra, Chris Ellis and KG Canaleta while Barroca defends his Obstacle Challenge crown against Jonas Villanueva, Simon Atkins, LA Tenorio, LA Revilla, RR Garcia, Brian Heruela, Chris Banchero, Pringle, Barroca, Castro and Jeric Fortuna.

Macapagal shoots for an unprecedented sixth 3-point shootout diadem against a stellar cast of challengers that include Yap, Hontiveros, Tenorio, Santos, Alapag and Chris Tiu.

Adding excitement in the 2015 PBA All-Star festivities is Manny Pacquiao’s participation in the Rookie versus Sophomores game.