North-South Stars test RP 5

MANILA, Philippines – A more potent mix of players with great balance and versatility provides the final challenge to the Powerade Team Pilipinas in the closing stage of the 2009 Motolite PBA All-Star Week at the Araneta Coliseum today.

Starters of the North and the South All Stars team up with imports Gabe Freeman, David Noel, Anthony Johnson and Jai Lewis, making up the squad pitted against the Nationals in the third and final game of this All-Star series designed to help the RP team in its buildup for the coming Fiba Asia world qualifier.

The Nationals have swept their first two games in the series, showing they’re on track in their training and preparation for the Asian championship slated in August in China.

RP coach Yeng Guiao said the first two games were learning experiences, and they hope to learn some more as they take on the PBA All Stars in their 6 p.m. encounter today at the Big Dome.

The Nationals and the South All Stars flew back to Manila from Davao yesterday.

South starters Eric Menk, Dorian Pena, Jay Washington, Dondon Hontiveros and Jimmy Alapag join forces with North first five Marc Pingris, Enrico Villanueva, Danny Ildefonso, Macmac Cardona and Paul Artadi for the concluding Big Dome game.

“I expect that to be our biggest challenge,” said Guiao of today’s final game.

“We’re likely to be pushed to the limit in this game while up against four imports and the starting casts of the North and South teams. Having encountered us, they already know how to play us,” Guiao added.

The Nationals already faced a stiff challenge from the South team in Panabo, Davao del Norte Friday, needing to ride on Jared Dillinger’s endgame exploits to salvage a 103-99 win.

Nearly squandering a 26-point bulge as they became complacent in the final quarter, the Nationals got an earful from their fiery coach after the game.

“We could have ended the game in a more emphatic manner. The reason why we didn’t was mental breakdown. They relaxed and committed careless mistakes in the process,” said Guiao.

“It may become a bad habit if tolerated, so I tried to nip it in the bud by giving them a piece of my mind. If they’re playing for their mother teams, baka pwede pang patawarin. But you can’t fool around if what’s at stake is for the country. Ninety million people will get mad at you,” added Guiao. “I took the opportunity to drive the point at them.”

Meanwhile, with the ailing Kelly Williams out, KG Canaleta seeks to regain the slam dunk championship against challengers Dillinger, Gabe Norwood and Jay Washington.

Canaleta topped the competition for three straight years from 2005 before skipping the event last year due to an injury.

Imports David Noel, Anthony Johnson, Gabe Freeman and Jahmar Thorpe slug it out in their own dunk-off, with the winner facing the local champion in a dream duel. Noel is the favorite in the imports category being a former slam dunk champion in the US NCAA.

Obstacle course ruler Willie Miller and three-point king Renren Ritualo face a slew of new challengers in the other events of the All-Star Skills Competition.

In a bid for a fourth straight obstacle course crown, Miller goes up against Warren Ybanez of Barako Bull, Aces teammate LA Tenorio, Denok Miranda of Sta. Lucia, Bonbon Custodio of San Miguel, Alex Cabagnot of Coke, Topex Robinson of Purefoods, Jason Castro of Talk n Text, Paul Artadi of Ginebra and Sol Mercado of Rain or Shine.

Miller claimed the obstacle crown a third straight time last year by zapping championship opponents Dondon Hontiveros of San Miguel Beer (35.6 sec.) and Ronjay Buenafe of Coca-Cola (41.7) in blistering 25.5 seconds - the fastest time ever recorded in the event.

Ritualo captured the three-point shootout at the West Negros University gym in Bacolod a year ago by dethroning former ruler Dondon Hontiveros, 19-18, in the final.

The two will have another showdown this year, with James Yap of Purefoods, Jeff Chan of Barako Bull, Gary David of Burger King, Larry Fonacier of Alaska, Ronald Tubid of Ginebra, Joseph Yeo of Sta. Lucia, TNT teammate Jimmy Alapag, Ronjay Buenafe of Coke, and Fiesta Cup 3-point leader Don Dulay of Rain or Shine joining the battle.