All-star cast named

THREE Alaska players and three more from San Miguel, including rookie
big man Rabeh Al-Hussaini, were named to the final rosters of both
North and South All-Star teams which will pit skills in the 2011 PBA
All-Star Game in Boracay a month from now.

The three Aces voted as reserves by the PBA head coaches are big men
Joe Devance and Sonny Thoss and playmaker L.A. Tenorio , while
Al-Hussaini is joined by fellow Beermen Arwind Santos and Alex
Cabagnot.

Al-Hussaini, the year’s No. 2 overall pick and the only freshman to
make it to the All-Star line up, will suit up for the North squad of
San Miguel mentor Ato Agustin along with Santos, Cabagnot and Tenorio.

Devance and Thoss, on the other hand, represent the ‘Twin Tower’ off
the bench for the South All-Stars under Talk `N Text mentor Chot
Reyes.

Completing the reserves for the North are Talk `N Text’s frontcourt
tandem of Ranidel de Ocampo and Harvey Carey, along with Meralco
hotshot MacMac Cardona.

Perennial All-Star Jimmy Alapag of Talk `N Text, meanwhile, is again
suiting up for the South together with Derby Ace’s Peter June Simon,
Meralco veteran center Asi Taulava and the Air21 pair of Dondon
Hontiveros and Danny Seigle.

Voted by fans as starters for North are Mark Pingris, Kerby Raymundo,
Mark Caguioa, Willie Miller and last year’s All-Star MVP Gabe Norwood.

James Yap, Jay Washington, Kelly Williams, Eric Menk and Cyrus Baguio
make up the starting unit for South.

The pro league is holding the annual, mid-season spectacle on the
island of Boracay for the first time, in partnership with Cre8 Events
Asia under president Carlo Quevada.

This developed as the league also announced the lineup for the Rookies
versus Sophomores Blitz Game, and the participants in the slam dunk,
three-point shootout and obstacle challenge side events.

No. 1 overall rookie pick Noy Baclao banners the freshmen selection,
where he is joined by Rey Guevarra, Elmer Espiritu, Rob Labagala, Hans
Thiele, Josh Vanlandingham, Shawn Weinstein and John Wilson.

Josh Urbiztondo and Chris Ross will be at the helm of the sophomore
team and will have for teammates Francis Allera, Marcy Arellano, Jervy
Cruz, Gerwin Gaco, Emerson Oreta.
Third year pro Larry Rodriguez has been named to augment the
Sophomores team replacing the injured Rico Maierhofer.
KG Canaleta won’t be around for a shot at a fifth PBA slam dunk title,
and out to displace him from his throne are some of the league’s
certified high-flyers in Norwood, JC Intal, Ronald Tubid, Washington,
Espiritu, a former PBL ‘slam’ titleholder, Guevarra, and former
champion Williams.

Mark Macapagal goes for a back-to-back three-point shootout titles as
he defends his crown against deadly gunners Alapag, Cardona, Devance,
Hontiveros, Tubid, Ronjay Buenafe, Sunday Salvacion and James Yap.

Jonas Villanueva also tries to do the same in the Obstacle Challenge
where he will be tested to the hilt by Alapag, Buenafe, Cabagnot,
Miller, Ross, Tenorio, Urbiztondo and Gary David.

Four-time league MVP Alvin Patrimonio will team up with Agustin and
Allan Caidic to challenge the top three finishers of the 3-point
shootout in the equally interesting Legends Shootout that will serve
as appetizer to the All-Star Game on All-Star Sunday. PR

Mark, Willie lead North against James and South

THE explosive Ginebra backcourt tandem of Mark Caguioa and Willie Miller leads the North team against James Yap and the South squad when the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) unveils the 2011 edition of the annual All-Star game next month in the scenic island of Boracay.

Caguioa and Miller accumulated the most number of fan votes among guards from Luzon with 17,037 and 9,603, respectively, in earning the starting guard spots
for the North.

But it was James Yap, as expected, who emerged the runaway fan favorite, receiving the most number of votes among this year’s All-Stars with 31,437.

The Derby Ace top gunner gets to share stellar billing with high-flyer Cyrus Baguio of Alaska, who nosed out Talk `N Text’s Jimmy Alapag for the other backcourt spot by earning 18,342 votes. Alapag got 16,785.

Voting for the May 18-23 mid-season spectacle dubbed ‘Hala Bola Boracay 2011 All Star Weekend’ ended last April 10.

Joining Caguioa and Miller in the starting unit of the North are llamados frontcourt tandem Mark Pingris (22,041) and Kerby Raymundo (15,381), with Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood, last year’s All-Star Game Most Valuable Player, filling up the last North starting spot with 12,744 votes.

Starting up front for the South are Barangay Ginebra’s Eric Menk, who garnered 23,571 votes, San Miguel’s Jay Washington (23,571) and Kelly Williams of Talk `N Text (20,439).

Talk `N Text’s Chot Reyes and Ato Agustin of San Miguel will call the shots for the South and North squads, respectively, after guiding their teams into the Philippine Cup Finals.

The South All Stars are raring to get back against their North counterparts after losing last year’s All-Star game by the skin of their teeth, 133-132, in Puerto Princesa City.PR