Simon, Santos lead reserves; Melton-Ellis showdown in Slam Dunk

MANILA, Philippines -- One-time PBA All-Star Game MVP winners Arwind Santos and Peter June Simon led the reserves voted to the PBA Selection that challenges Gilas Pilipinas in the 25th edition of the mid-season spectacle set April 6 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Others voted by PBA coaches to the reserve cast are Alaska’s Calvin Abueva and Sonny Thoss, San Mig Coffee’s Joe Devance, San Miguel Beer’s Marcio Lassiter and Talk n Text's KG Canaleta.

Earlier, the fans picked Ginebra’s Greg Slaughter, Chris Ellis and Mac Baracael, and San Mig Coffee’s James Yap and Mark Barroca to make the starting unit of the PBA All Stars that will be pitted against Gilas Pilipinas in the highlight event of the 2014 PBA All-Star festivities spread over four days starting April 3.

Slaughter topped all the players in the balloting with 61,680 votes, followed by Ellis with 44,630 then Baracael with 33,756 as the third frontline player in the starting five.

Barroca was the top vote getter among guards with 38,268 followed by perennial top candidate Yap with 38,260.
 
Yap is making an 11th All-Star Game appearance, tying the record of Jerry Codinera and Dondon Hontiveros. Alvin Patrimonio and Asi Taulava are the only two players with more All-Star stints with 12 apiece.

It’s Gilas Pilipinas versus PBA All Stars Part II, a follow-up to the same All-Star format showcased to the PBA fans in Digos City last year.

Gilas’ Jeff Chan and the All-Stars’ Arwind Santos shared MVP honors after the game ended in a 124-all standoff on Chan’s buzzer-beating three-pointer.

In the side events, Jonas Villanueva goes for a five-peat feat in the Obstacle Challenge while Ellis and Chris Tiu defend their crowns in the slam dunk and three-point shootout competitions.

Challenging Ellis in the slam dunk are Justin Melton, Rey Guevarra, Arwind Santos, Cliff Hodge and Abueva.

Tiu, meanwhile, stakes his three-point title against Larry Fonacier, Baracael, Mark Cardona, Jvee Casio, Gary David, Lassiter and former winners Yap and Mark Macapagal.

The Legends Game will be played for the third straight year with PBA pioneer stars Atoy Co and Bogs Adornado bannering the rival squads.

Co will be the playing coach of Team Greats composed of Freddie Abuda, Vergel Meneses, Franz Pumaren, Johnedel Cardel, Guevarra, Terrence Romeo, Casio, Willie Miller, Hodge and Villanueva while Adornado will play and call the shots for Team Stalwarts made up of Dickie Bachmann, Noli Locsin, Jeffrey Cariaso, Richard del Rosario, Melton, Ronjay Buenafe, Tiu, Sol Mercado, Cardona and John Wilson.