Menk, Hontiveros, Alapag voted South All-Star starters

MANILA, Philippines - Former national players Eric Menk, Dondon Hontiveros and Jimmy Alapag are among those voted to play for PBA selections testing the mettle of the Powerade Team Pilipinas in the 2009 PBA All-Star Week set April 22-26.

Another former RP stalwart Danny Seigle also gained the nod of the fans for a slot in the three-game series. However, it’s very unlikely he’ll be able to play as he’s rehabbing from a back surgery.

Menk, Hontiveros, Alapag and Seigle, members of the RP team that placed ninth in the 2007 Fiba Asia Olympic qualifier in Japan in 2007, were voted along with Jay Washington as starters of the South All-Stars taking on the RP team in Panabo, Davao del Norte on April 24.

Meanwhile, Marc Pingris, Lordy Tugade, Enrico Villanueva, Paul Artadi and MacMac Cardona drew votes to be the starters of the North team, which plays the Nationals on April 22 in Victorias, Negros Occidental. Tugade is also a doubtful starter for the event as he’s also nursing an injury.

The South and North starters join forces in the final day of the series, taking on the Nationals at the Araneta Coliseum on April 26.

 Hontiveros got the most number of fan votes with 38,044 followed by Washington (32,372), Seigle (32,048), Alapag (31,482), Pingris (30,086), Menk (29,538), Tugade (16,934), Cardona (16,972), Artadi (14,718) and Villanueva (14,212).

Hontiveros and RP team member Asi Taulava are to appear in their ninth All-Star.

Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes calls the shots for the PBA selection in the Victorias and in the Manila games while Alaska coach Tim Cone figures in a duel of wits with RP mentor Yeng Guiao in the Panabo tiff.

The 10 PBA coaches select the players that will complete the North and South rosters while league commissioner Sonny Barrios chooses four imports each to reinforce the two All-Star units. Two imports can play at a time.

The PBA is deviating from its traditional North versus South format to help the RP team in its preparation for three forthcoming international jousts — SEABA championship in June, Jones Cup in July and the Fiba Asia championship in August.

The Nationals’ mission is to land in the top three in the Fiba Asia championship to gain a slot in the world championship in Istanbul, Turkey next year.

Meanwhile, Rain or Shine will be back in practice with a full roster starting today as import Jai Lewis was to fly back from the United States last night.

Lewis was allowed to take a seven-day leave after giving the Elasto Painters a 5-2 win-loss record in the first four weeks of the tourney.

The Elasto Painters tangle with the San Miguel Beermen at the resumption of Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference on Easter Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Also expected to arrive soon is former Coca-Cola import Jeff Varem who is to take over from Scooter McFadgon at Barako Bull.