All-Star teams eyed for NBA legends series

The visiting NBA legends will likely carry the banner of Harbour Centre and play a pair of PBA selections in a two-game series which may well become a part of the coming PBA All-Star festivities.

PBA commissioner Noli Eala said the exhibition series is practically a done deal, giving Filipino basketball fans a chance to see Dennis Rodman and company in action.

Aside from Rodman, those who have confirmed their participation in the event are Alex English, Sydney Moncrief, Darryl Dawkins, Otis Birdsong, Kevin Willis and Calvin Murphy.

The seven NBA legends will be reinforced by American collegiate players or some members of the Harbour Centre PBL squad.

The first game will be either April 27 or 28 in the south and May 1 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Eala said they will form two PBA teams depending on the final makeup of the visiting squad.

"If they’re able to form an all-American team, we’ll field the national team against them. If not, we’ll likely pit against them our north and south selections playing in the annual All-Star game," said Eala.

Eala said the exhibition series could well become a part of the PBA All-Star Week which will be hosted by either Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Palawan or Bacolod.

But how tough is the visiting squad? One could say that all the seven players did make their marks in the NBA but they’re well past their primes.

Rodman and Willis are the only players in the team still into highly competitive games with the former having just played in the British league and the latter playing his 20th season in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks last year.