PBA stars bring act to Misamis

Basketball atmosphere in Misamis Oriental reaches fever pitch barely two weeks before the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) visits the province for the 2006 Hope Cigarette PBA All-Star weekend.

The red carpet is now being readied by the people of Mindanao’s third largest province, whose friendly smile and warm welcome await the league and the rest of the delegates taking part in the April 27-29 hoopla being supported by Chowking.

Gov. Oscar Moreno vows to make this year’s edition of the mid-season spectacle a celebration like no other.

"We are very, very excited, anxious and delighted to be chosen as host of this year’s PBA All-Star weekend. Just about everybody is waiting for it," said Moreno.

While Misamis Oriental’s capital city of Cagayan de Oro hosted numerous PBA games in the past, cage frenzy in the place, which prides itself not only as a province but also a new haven of opportunities, has not been this great since league commissioner Noli Eala announced it the winner over Iloilo as this year’s All-Star weekend host.

"We’re looking forward to this historic occasion. We know that it is very difficult to make everybody happy and enjoy the weekend, but we do hope that we can measure up to the task," added Moreno.

Misamis Oriental is the fourth province in the last six years to host the annual extravaganza.

Laoag City staged the meet last year, Cebu did its share in 2004 while Iloilo was the All-Star host in 2001.

"Just like the people of Misamis Oriental, your PBA is excited as well to bring the All-Star weekend there. Rest assured of an exciting and fun-filled three-day of hardcourt action," Eala said.

Huge banners and streamers of the All-Star weekend are now prominent along the streets of the province all the way up to the playing site at the Xavier high school gym.

Also part of the local government’s preparation is the holding of an agri-fare that will feature the local and cultural product of the province such as mangoes, banana, lansones, cashew, assorted fruits, watermelon, pineapple, honeybee, among others.

An outreach program involving the different charity bodies is also being tinkered by the local government, the project being a regular staple of the All-Star weekend.

As in the past, the 2006 All-Stars will also showcase the different side events like the slam dunk, three-point shootout, trick shot and obstacle challenge.

The match up between the North and South remains as the centerpiece of the weekend event, with the South squad eyeing to avenge the 128-131 setback it suffered last year as Jayjay Helterbrand erupted for 38 big points to pace the North team.