PBA All-Star Game on Sunday

source: mb.com.ph

BORACAY, Philippines – Petron Blaze coach Renato Agustin, making his debut as an All-Star coach, hopes to exact some measure of revenge against Talk ‘N Text counterpart Chot Reyes even in the spirit of fun.

The PBA All-Star Week comes to its climax when the All-Stars of the North and South teams clash Sunday at 6 p.m. at the Boracay Convention Center here.

The North will try to repeat as champion in the All-Star game, which happened only once when the North squad won in 1993 and in 1994 with Allan Caidic and Benjie Paras winning Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors, respectively.

The North, which holds a 5-4 lead against the South in the history of the All-Stars, won last year in Puerto Princesa, Palawan (133-130) with Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood taking the coveted MVP plum.

Norwood, who skipped the Slam Dunk contest at the last minute due to a leg injury, will start for the North with Willie Miller of Barangay Ginebra, Kerby Raymundo and Marc Pingris of B-Meg Derby Ace, and Alaska’s LA Tenorio, who replaced Mark Caguioa.

Starting for the South are B-Meg’s James Yap, Petron’s Jay Washington, Slam Dunk champion Kelly Williams of Talk ’N Text, Eric Menk of Ginebra and Cyrus Baguio of Alaska.

Agustin, a former five-time All-Star, failed to steer San Miguel Beer to victory against Reyes and his Tropang Texters during the finals of the Philippine Cup.

“With the lineup we have, we have a good chance to defend the title. I’m just excited,” Agustin said during a press conference Saturday.

“Ibabawi ako ng North,” added Agustin in jest when the idea was broached by no less than PBA Commissioner Chito Salud that this is a good opportunity for him to get back at Reyes, who wasn’t around at the press briefing as he is set to arrive late Saturday.

Reyes, who attended business trip in the United States with TNT owner Manny V. Pangilinan, will be coaching the All-Star for the fourth time. His record is 2-1.

The reserves for the North are Meralco’s Mark Cardona, TNT’s Ranidel de Ocampo and Harvey Carey, and Petron’s rookie Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot, while coming off the bench for the South are TNT’s
Jimmy Alapag, Derby Ace’s PJ Simon, Meralco’s Asi Taulava, Air21’s Dondon Hontiveros and Danny Seigle, and Alaska’s Joe Devance and Sonny Thoss.

“It’s the All-Star, were here to give fans a good show, have some highlights and dunks. But at the same time you want to win. So we’ll buckle down on defense in the fourth quarter, hopefully get some stops, and hopefully get a win,” said Washington.

Norwood has only one guy to go to at crunch time. “If the game’s close in the fourth I will give the ball to LA. I think we have a good advantage in the fourth because we have some of the best clutch players,” he said.

Meanwhile, finalists in the three-point shootout led by back-to-back champion Mark Macapagal of Powerade, Ronald Tubid of Ginebra and Alapag will face Agustin, Allan Caidic and Alvin Patrimonio n the Legends Shootout.

Late Friday, the Rookies defeated the Sophomores, 114-109. Ginebra’s Robert Labagala and Powerade’s Sean Anthony were named co-MVPs.

source: mb.com.ph