Slam dunk titlist Lasala and 3-point king Bartolabac to defend titles; UC's Abellanosa leads MVP race

The brightest cage stars from the East will once again pit skills with their West counterparts in the keenly-awaited 2006 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) All-Star Game at 1 pm this Sunday at the Cebu Coliseum.

Five players each from five-time champion University of the Visayas Green Lancers, University of Southern Philippines Panthers and University of San Carlos Warriors form the core of the East All-Stars under the tutelage of USC bench tactician Jesus "Jay" Ramirez.

They are Von Harry Lanete, Morsie Akad, Jayford Rodriguez, Rino Berame and Eulogio Lasala of UV, Niño Ramirez, Enrico John Llanto, Arietroy Mercader, Vernini Tangarorang and Ryan Carlo Padayao of USC, and Henry Mancera, Moncrief Rogado, Bryan Travero, Randy Colonia, and Cleford Maguate of USP.

The equally-strong West force is armed with promising hardcourt warriors from the University of Cebu Webmasters, University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars, Cebu Institute of Technology Wildcats, and Don Bosco College.

Making up the West All-Stars roster are Allain Abellanosa, Cadayong Salvador and Jonathan Canceran of UC, Armand Ponce, Ariel Lozano, Bobby Hatague, Manny Gabas and Luther Justiniani of USJ-R, Sherwin Abobo, Emilio Aniñon, Jerry Lumongsod and Marvin Abapo of CIT, and Celso Colegado, Richard Vargas, and John Lester Sunga of DBC.

Edito Salacut of USJ-R will call the shots for the West All-Stars.

In the high school showdown, the East All-Stars of coach Roland Remidio (USC) are a powerhouse collection of players that include Franz Dionne Dysam of USP, Phil Mercadero and Christian Camay of UV, and John Philip de los Santos and Dan Junior Bercede of USC.

Completing the East All-Stars squad are U.R. de la Cruz, Ephraim Elorde, Raymund Olivar and Lawrence Miguil Maraño of USP, Mark Niño Gonzaga, Louiely Lacno and Edrian Lao of UV, and Robert Gines Codilla, Jose Aldriane Alocillo, and Joules Frazier Ferolino.

Tasked to carry the fight for the Reggie Licanda (UC)-mentored West side are Mark Madison Rago, Mark Gil Panerio, Robinson Mohamad, Bill Connors, Reynan Capoy, and Paloyo Cabañero III of UC, Carlo Augusto, Charles Quiroga and Rex Ybañez of CIT, Clint Joseph Caritan, Louis Robert Rentuza and Mikael Thomas Corominas of USJ-R, and Malvin Malicdem, John Joseph Parilla and Christioray Lapitan of DBTC.

Last season, the East and the West split their games. The East prevailed in the collegiate division, 90-86, while the West lorded it over in the secondary action, 74-68.

Sidelights

Before the hardcourt hostilities of the annual spectacle, two exciting sidelights will surely thrill the spectators to the bones:the slam dunk competition and the three-point shootout.

UV's Eulogio Lasala will once again show his gravity-defying stunts in a bid to retain the slam dunk crown he won last year by edging out teammate Morsie Akad.

USP's Jason Bartolabac, on the other hand, will be on hand to defend his 3-point king title. He topped last year's 3-point shootfest by defeating UV's Jaysar Esperat in the final round, 17-11.

A total of 19 long-range bombers have enlisted for the 3-point battle, while eight high-leaping stalwarts will show their stuff in the slam dunk contest.

MVP Race

Based on the statistical records of the preliminary games, UC top guard Allain Abellanosa stands as the front-runner in the race for the coveted Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

At the end of the double round robin elimination, Abellanosa has garnered a total of 123 statistical points.

Breathing down Abellanosa's neck is USC bull-strong center Enrico John Llanto with 113SPs followed by teammate Niño Ramirez with 95SPs, just a matchstick ahead of UV 6-foot-7 skyscraper Rino Berame.

Rounding up the top 12 MVP candidates are Luther Justiniani of USJR (88SPs), Moncrief Rogado of USP (87SPs), John Lester Sunga of DBTC (83SPs), Randy Colonia of USP (79SPs), Jonathan Canceran of UC (75SPs), Morsie Akad of UV (74 SPs), Richard Vargas of DBTC (74SPs), and Jerry Lumongsod of CIT (74SPs).