For the first time since its inception, the ABC All-Star Extravaganza will come to Manila, promising a thrilling match-up between Asia's top players and the superstar pros from the Philippine Basketball Association.
The exciting match-up before arguably the most knowledgeable and rabid basketball fans in the region, billed as the 2000 ABC-PBA All-Star extravaganza, will be held on August 6 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The announcement was made jointly by BAP president Freddie Jalasco, PBA commissioner Emilio Bernardino, Jr. and ABC Promotions Ltd. chief executive officer Tom McCarthy yesterday.
ABC secretary -general Yeoh Choo Hock of Malaysia described the affair as a dream come true. "It has always been the ABC's goal to foster a good working relationship with the 25-year old PBA, which as everyone is aware is the oldest and best-run basketball organization this side of the world", he said.
For his part, Bernardino said they're " all looking forward to the ABC All-Stars in Manila . . . the best of Asia playing to the best basketball audience in the region if not the world."
Echoing the same sentiment, McCarthy said: "We are excited about working with great partners on an event that is sure to excite the Filipino fans and deliver excellent value to all of our corporate partners."
The 2000 ABC-PBA All-Star Extravaganza is made possible through the support of ABC's marketing partners Canon, Western Union, Adidas, Mikasa, Motorola, Lone Star Beer and Absolute Distilled Water.
The showdown between the PBA stars and the ABC All-Star Selection is expected to give local fans the chance to see up close Wang Zhi-zhi and a couple of mainstays of the Chinese national team bound for the Sydney Olympic Games in September. They will be joined by crack players from South Korea, Japan, Chinese-Taipei, Lebanon, Qatar and India.