There will be no letting up when Team Japeth and Team Mark collide in the Philippine Basketball Association All-Star Game on Sunday at the University of St. La Salle gymnasium in Bacolod City.
After all, who wouldn’t want to go home with the bragging rights as winners of the midseason spectacle and an extra incentive courtesy of Bacolod Mayor Albee Benitez?
The city chief hinted at the cash prize when he welcomed the league delegation to the City of Smiles last Thursday so expect the two squads to be extra motivated in their 6:30 p.m. showdown.
“We talked about it and we have an extra motivation after our conversation with the Mayor,” Team Mark skipper Mark Barroca said, drawing laughter in the packed presser at the Megaworld The Upper East.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial also poked fun at Benitez’s offer.
“Sunday’s game will surely be a great one, especially if you’ll add more to the prize of the winner,” Marcial said as Benitez gave a hearty laugh.
Kidding aside, the Magnolia guard promised to make his return to Bacolod after helping his college team Far Eastern University rule the University Games in 2009 memorable to the fans.
“Of course, we want to win. We’ll give our best because we want to compete in high-level basketball. We want this All-Star in Bacolod to be special. We’ll try our best to win,” Barroca, the PBA All-Star leading vote-getter, said.
But Team Mark, who will be handled by San Miguel Beer coach Jorge Gallent, is sure to have a hard time pushing Team Japeth off the throne.
The Japeth Aguilar-skippered squad seeks to make it back-to-back after taking a 140-136 victory over Team Scottie last year in Passi, Iloilo.
“We want to defend our win from last year. Although they now have a different coach, we’ll try to get that back-to-back,” the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel slotman said.
Kings mentor Tim Cone reunites with Aguilar to give it another go for the All-Star Game win.
Team Japeth will miss the services of top All-Star draft pick Christian Standhardinger as a late scratch due to an illness.
But Team Japeth will still have a competitive lineup with Paul Lee, Calvin Oftana, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Don Trollano, Marcio Lassiter, Arvin Tolentino, Maverick Ahanmisi, Stanley Pringle, Terrence Romeo, RR Pogoy and Aris Dionisio.
