PANABO, Davao del Norte, Philippines -- Mas mahigpit na hamon ang naghihintay sa Powerade Team Pilipinas sa kanilang pakikipagtipan sa core ng 2008 PBA All-Star game--ang South All-Star sa ikalawang araw ng aksiyon ng 2009 Motolite PBA All-Star Extravaganza.
Ang South All-Star, na tinatampukan ng tatlong dating national players at dalawang talentong imports, ang susubok naman sa kakayahan ng Nationals.
Mismong si RP coach Yeng Guiao ay umaasa sa mabigat na hamon kontra sa mas malaki at mas mabilis na team kumpara sa North All-Star na kanilang tinalo 98-80 sa Victoria Gym, Victorias, Negros Occidental noong Miyerkules.
“They (the South team) have the size and quickness to match up with us. This team could well pose a different challenge for us,” ani Guiao.
“Another thing going for them was the opportunity to scout us in our game against the North. They’ll surely make adjustments to put as more on the defensive. But we welcome that. This could help us improve,” dagdag ni Guiao.
“We have two goals coming out in this game. We want to get everybody on the floor and show something. And we want to help them (the Nationals) out,” wika naman ni South coach Tim Cone, mentor ng RP team na nagwagi ng bronze medal noong 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.
Nagbiyahe ang Nationals ng pitong oras mula Bacolod na may stopover sa Cebu upang makarating dito ng tanghali. Nauna lang ng konti ang South All-Star na galing naman ng Maynila.
Igigiya ni Cone ang imports na sina Rosell Ellis at Jeff Varem at mga local players Eric Menk, Jimmy Alapag, Dondon Hontiveros, Jay Washington, Dorian Peña, Peter June Simon, Reynel Hugnatan, John Ferriols, JR Quiñahan at Ronald Tubid.