All-Star bash kicks off

SAN FERNANDO, La Union — This bustling Ilocandia city, a surfing paradise and among cycling tour’s favorite pit stops, simmers in basketball fever today as initial action in the 2007 PBA All-Star Week is held at the Pacoy Ortega Gymnasium.

The All-Star Week celebration heats up and the Ortega Gym is likely to rock like never before with the staging of the All-Star skills events then the Blitz Game between the rookies and the sophomores starting at 5 p.m.

The North and South All-Star teams, playing in the main game at the University of Baguio Gym Sunday, will go on a campus tour and hospital visit then will be on the sidelines for the All-Star Thursday events.

Niño Canaleta goes for an unprecedented third straight crown in the slam dunk competition which could become the biggest attraction in the Thursday activities of the All-Star Week sponsored by Victory Liner, San Miguel Beer, Air21, Casino Alcohol, Pigrolac Premium, Accel, Coca-Cola, Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs and Rain or Shine.

Canaleta, however, could well face a stiff challenge from former winner Cyrus Baguio and Fil-Am slammers Kelly Williams and Jay Washington. Ronald Tubid volunteered himself for the event on the 11th hour, looking to gain another All-Star crown in addition to his three-point shootout victory in 2004 in Cebu.

William Antonio is also faced with top opposition in his three-point shootout title-defense and so do Willie Miller in the obstacle course.

A wild-open battle is seen in the trick shot event among Topex Robinson, Jireh Ibanes, Ranidel de Ocampo, Joseph Yeo, Aaron Aban, Dennis Miranda, Mark Cardona, LA Tenorio and Jun Simon.

The league rookies and sophomores, meanwhile, do their share for the third straight staging of the All-Star extravaganza, fighting for bragging rights in the Blitz Game.

The Sophies seek to keep their winning tradition while the Freshmen hope to finally pull one in the main feature of the All-Star Thursday.

The Sophomore team is composed of Canaleta, Miranda, Paolo Bugia, Alex Cabagnot, Jay Washington, Mike Holper, Leo Najorda and Mark Macapagal while the Rookies are Aban, Yeo, Tenorio, Ibanes, Arwind Santos, Gabby Espinas, Jay-R Reyes and Mark Andaya.

Ginebra assistant mentor Art dela Cruz coaches the rookies while Alaska assistant coach Jojo Lastimosa calls the shots for the sophomores.

The Sophies may have efficient scorers in Canaleta, Cabagnot, Najorda and Macapagal but the Freshmen appear to have the more balanced lineup with Yeo and Tenorio featured at the back court and Reyes, Santos and Espinas at the front court.

Quickness is the name of the game with the two teams needing to make an attempt inside 22 seconds to beat the shot-clock violation. Teams also need to bring the ball to front court in six seconds.

As an added excitement, the novelty game scores three points for a dunk.

It will be remembered that Sta. Lucias Bitoy Omolon produced six slams and totaled 37 points as the Sophies whipped the Rookies, 122-106, in Laoag.

Incidentally, then rookie Canaleta also had six dunks and finished with 36 points.

The Sophies made it two in a row in Cagayan de Oro City last year.