Almazan, Sangalang, Aguilar Luzon All-Star

MANILA, Philippines — Two former national pool members try to show the way for the Luzon selection when it takes its turn to host the Philippine men’s team during the PBA All-Star week.

Raymund Almazan and Ian Sangalang form a dreaded frontcourt trio with Japeth Aguilar for the Luzon team of coach Leo Austria as it tries to neutralize the steady presence of June Mar Fajardo for the nationals in their May 25 encounter in Batangas City.

Both Almazan and Sangalang were once part of the national pool team of coach Chot Reyes.

Aguilar was voted as starter for the Luzon All-Stars during the event which has Phoenix Fuel with Phoenix Pulse Technology as major sponsor, along with Barangay Ginebra teammate LA Tenorio, Calvin Abueva of Alaska, Paul Lee of Magnolia, and Jason Castro of TnT Katropa, who takes the place of the injured Marc Pingris.

Stanley Pringle of GlobalPort, Phoenix’s Matthew Wright, and the San Miguel trio of Arwind Santos, Marcio Lassiter and Alex Cabagnot make up the rest of the team.

Meanwhile, joining Fajardo in the national team roster for the meet also supported by Peak Sports Apparel, Molten and PBA RUSH-Cignal are the TnT Katropa’s Terrence Romeo, Roger Pogoy, and Troy Rosario, Carl Bryan Cruz, Mac Belo, Allein Maliksi, Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine, Magnolia’s Jio Jalalon, and rookie Kiefer Ravena of NLEX.

The Batangas phase of the three-leg spectacle that will also have stops in Mindanao (Davao del Sur) and the Visayas (Iloilo), sees the holding of the obstacle challenge, three-point shootout, and slam dunk side events.

Allein Maliksi will be back to defend his three-point shootout title against a cast that includes former champions Terrence Romeo and James Yap, Marcio Lassiter, Paul Lee, Matthew Wright, Larry Fonacier, Garvo Lanete, Ronald Tubid, Stanley Pringle, LA Tenorio and JV Casio.

Chris Newsome, meanwhile, aims for a back-to-back slam dunk crown when he goes up against the likes of Matt Ganuelas Rosser, Renz Palma, Marion Magat, Lervin Flores, Jackson Corpuz, and former winners Gabe Norwood and Rey Guevarra.

The Obstacle event is expected to bring the house down as it features big men doing the challenge. Competing are Sonny Thoss, Raymond Aguilar, JP Erram, Kelly Nabong, Russel Escoto, Ken Bono, Asi Taulava, Doug Kramer, Aldrech Ramos, Beau Belga, Yancy de Ocampo, and Yousef Taha.