After four days on the road doing mainly socio-civic activities and related matters, the PBA stars finally plunge into action on the hard court in the keenly-awaited weekend features of the 2004 PBA All-Star Week here.
The skills competitions, highlighted by the Legends Three-point Shootout pitting retired champion gunners versus the cream of the present crop, are to be played starting at 4 p.m. today at the Mandaue Sports Complex, ushering in the main showcase All-Star Game tomorrow at the Cebu Coliseum.
Everybody’s expecting lots of fun, excitement and thrill although Alaska’s Brandon Cablay might not be able to defend his slam dunk title because of an injury.
Commissioner Noli Eala said Cablay’s injury was under evaluation.
Minus Cablay, it could become a three-cornered fight among Red Bull Barako’s Cyrus Baguio, San Miguel Beer’s Joey Mente and Shell’s Ronald Tubid.
Jimmy Alapag is excited on the prospect of becoming back-to-back three-point champion and getting a chance to challenge Allan Caidic, Boy Cabahug, Al Solis and Rhoel Gomez in a classic shootout.
It will actually be a team competition with Caidic, Cabahug, Solis and Gomez ranged against the top four finishers in the regular three-point competition. They will clash for a cash pot of P30,000 courtesy of businessman-sportsman Jean Henri Lhuillier.
Challenging Alapag for the regular three-point championship are Talk n Text teammate Willie Miller, Tubid, Ginebra’s Mark Caguioa, Alaska’s Mark Cortez, San Miguel’s Dondon Hontiveros, Sta. Lucia’s Paolo Mendoza, Barako’s Mick Pennisi, FedEx’s Renren Ritualo, Coca-Cola’s Rob Wainwright and Purefoods’ James Yap.
Other events on tap are the obstacle course where Rob Johnson seeks a second straight title versus Wynne Arboleda, Paul Artadi, Felix Belano, Ronald Cuan, Gary David, Mente, Topex Robinson and Tubid and the trick shot challenge which is featured for the first time to be contested by Cablay, Caguioa, Cuan, Tony dela Cruz, Wesley Gonzales, Hontiveros, Johnson, Miller and Junthy Valenzuela.
Then the All-Star Game finally beckons tomorrow.
In a press conference hosted by Cebu Mayor Tomas Osmena yesterday, several intriguing declarations were made.
"We’ll be out to stop Vergel Meneses from getting a fifth All-Star MVP title," said Hontiveros.
"I’ll try to break Olsen Racela’s 5-0 record and my own 0-5 record in the All-Star Games," said Taulava.
And if those words were not enough, South All-Stars coach Joel Banal said: "We’re serious about it. You don’t want to get embarrassed in front of the home crowd."
The Southerners are considered the hometown team here with most of them tracing their roots to Cebuano-speaking places. Curiously, Banal considers Cebu another home since he was able to play here in 1980, suiting up for Gaisano as an import together with Ricky Relosa.
Under the North-versus-South format, the South squad is looking to equalize with two games apiece. The Southerners won in 1992 then the Northerners took the next two games in 1993 and 1994.