Honeyshots to outdo Laker Girls?

What the Laker Girls are to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Honeyshots will be to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

The word is out that PBA marketing director Robbie Puno is on the lookout for drop-dead looking girls to turn hardcourt lulls into rollicking intermission sideshows. It’s part of the continuing effort to transform the PBA into a total entertainment package.

The search has begun for 10 girls to comprise the PBA’s in-house cheerdancing troupe tentatively called the Honeyshots. Why not the Hotshots? That’s too close to Hot Babes even if the idea isn’t to rival Viva’s sizzlers. Couldn’t be the Bigshots because any reference to size is discriminatory. The Longshots would be a turnoff–fans like to think the dancers are within reach. And the Mugshots wouldn’t be complimentary to the girls.

Robbie says an initial call for tryouts lured over a hundred wannabes. He refuses to disclose who made up the screening committee but a PBA insider confirms there was a long list of applicants. The first cutoff trimmed down the pool to 20 with looks the principal determining factor.

"We chose the prettiest, the most charming of the candidates at first," explains Robbie. "Never mind their dancing skills. We based the first cutoff on beauty. If the girls aren’t good-looking, they’ll be a difficult sell even if they’re super dancers."

Then, Robbie continues, the screening committee asked the remaining candidates to put on their dancing shoes. They wiggled, waddled and wangled. The list fell to five, meaning the selection process was rigid and uncompromising. Who are the five? Robbie isn’t naming names. Secret, he says. They’ll be introduced at the proper time, at the proper venue. The unveiling will be an event in itself. For the moment, the High Five are under wraps, concealed in a closet under lock and key.

What’s more, Robbie says the Honeyshots will be beefed up–or rather, caked up–by at least three celebrity guests, including April Tolentino. He’s also not revealing who the other celebrities are, keeping the identities close to his treasure chest.

Robbie says a plan to expose the not-yet-complete Honeyshots when the league’s 1-on-1 tournament gets off the ground on Sept. 14 was shot down by Commissioner Noli Eala.

"Comish decided we shouldn’t do a premature introduction, considering we haven’t signed up 10 Honeyshots yet," says Robbie. "It’s all or nothing. We’re bringing out the Honeyshots with a bang."

Robbie says the Honeyshots will be the PBA’s ambassadors of goodwill. They’ll tour the country spreading the gospel of basketball and crusading for the PBA. They won’t only dance. They’ll appear on TV shows, visit orphanages, reach out to the underprivileged, spearhead purposeful campaigns like going against drugs or promoting reading among youth, perform in mall tours, barnstorm campuses and lots more.

Who knows? Dancing as a Honeyshot could someday lead to a movie career or a stint with the Lakers Girls.

One last thing, adds Robbie. There’s no truth to the rumor that PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcia is interested to manage the Honeyshots as their agent although from the way the team is being assembled, it would be a tempting proposition for any red-blooded Lothario.

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