Game today:
(University of Saint La Salle gym)
6:30 p.m. — Team Japeth vs Team Mark
Team Japeth and Team Mark won’t be pulling punches when they meet for the Philippine Basketball Association’s All-Star Game.
Both squads vow to make the mid-season spectacle’s return to Bacolod City after 16 years, to be an action-packed, thrilling and memorable one for the fans expected to fill the University of Saint La Salle gymnasium.
Game time is set at 6:30 p.m.
“In this All-Star, of course, we have a lot of fans here. They only see us playing on TV so this time we’re going to make it extra special for them,” Team Mark skipper Mark Barroca said.
The Magnolia guard will try to lead the Jorge Gallent-mentored squad past the back-to-back-seeking Team Japeth.
“We prepared well as Coach (Gallent) said we’re treating this game as a regular game. It’s going to be a real battle of skills,” added Barroca, who is making his first visit to the city since helping his college team Far Eastern University capture the 2008 University Games title.
“We’ll showcase all of that here for the fans. Hopefully, we’ll be able to encourage and inspire the young kids with how we play.”
Gallent, who recently steered San Miguel Beer to the Commissioner’s Cup championship, has expressed excitement in his first All-Star head coaching stint.
“Of course, I’m very excited because this is my first time as an All-Star coach and I’m very happy about it. I thank the fans for choosing me,” he said.
Helping Barroca out are June Mar Fajardo, Jason Perkins, CJ Perez, Robert Bolick, Jio Jalalon, Ian Sangalang, James Yap, Calvin Abueva, Jayson Castro, Gabe Norwood, Ricci Rivero, Cliff Hodge, Juami Tiongson, and Nards Pinto.
“I was telling Mark he chose good players and he chose players who are very active and energetic so I think we have a very good chance of winning this game. I’m sure we’re gonna make it competitive,” Gallent said.
But pulling a win over a Team Japeth side under the watchful eyes of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel tactician Tim Cone won’t be an easy one.
The Gin Kings forward Japeth Aguilar-skippered team seeks to make it two in a row after taking a 140-136 victory over Team Scottie last year in Passi, Iloilo.
And just like Team Mark, Aguilar and the rest of his crew are going all-out to win it all in the first PBA All-Stars in the City of Smiles since the South All Stars topped their North counterparts, 163-158, in overtime.
Peter June Simon was named Most Valuable Player then after dropping 29 points.
Team Japeth defeated Team Scottie, 140-136, in Passi, Iloilo last year.
“This is our way of giving back to the fans. We hope to give a great show to the fans,” Aguilar said.
Although Aguilar won’t have his Ginebra buddy and All-Stars draft top pick Christian Standhardinger by his side due to an illness, Team Japeth still has a very formidable roster.
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 are backstopping Team Japeth.
Making the game extra competitive is the pledge of Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez to give the winning team an incentive.
“Not only will you bring smiles to the city, I’m sure you will bring a very exciting game that we will be anticipating,” Benitez said as he personally welcomed by the PBA delegation last Thursday.
The All-Star weekend saw league stars participate in various activities including basketball, coaches and referees’ clinics.
The league also visited Negros Occidental High School where it handed out a donation of P500,000.
