'Hala-Bola' All-Star kicks off in Bora

BORACAY, Philippines  – It’s showtime.

Action in the 2011 Hala Bola! PBA All-Star Week commences today with the league’s high-flyers disputing the slamdunk diadem, the long tom artists taking shots at the three-point crown, and the freshmen and the sophomores fighting for the bragging rights in the Blitz Game.

Kelly Williams, Gabe Norwood and Jay Washington are expected to figure in a battle royal in the slamdunk contest while Mark Macapagal is tipped to have his hands full in his three-point title defense against a crack field of challengers.

The skills events start at 5 p.m. at the Boracay Convention Center with Jonas Villanueva gunning for back-to-back triumphs in the Obstacle Course.

These skills competitions and the Rookies-Sophomores Blitz Game are the featured events in the All-Star Friday of the annual mid-season spectacle presented by Smart, Accel, Molten, Islander, Rain or Shine and Powerade and sponsored by Coca-Cola, Meralco, Alta Vista Boracay, Talk n Text, Puma and Maynilad.

The Blitz Game is set at 7:30 p.m. with Jervy Cruz and his sophomore teammates looking to assert their seniority versus the rookies.

Josh Urbiztondo, Chris Ross, Francis Allera, Marcy Arellano, Jerwin Gaco, Emerson Oreta and Larry Rodriguez also play for the Sophies versus Rookies Nonoy Baclao, Rey Guevarra, Elmer Espiritu, Rob Labagala, Hans Thiele, Josh Vanlandingham, Shawn Weinstein and John Wilson.

Rodriguez is a third-year pro tapped to augment the Sophies, replacing the injured Rico Maierhofer.

In Puerto Princesa, Palawan in 2010, the Sophomores walloped the Rookies, 106-86, with Jared Dillinger emerging MVP.

Norwood and Williams both seek a second crown in the slamdunk contest that will also feature the participation of Ronald Tubid and former collegiate dunking champions JC Intal, Guevarra and Espiritu.

Veteran Willie Miller, Marc Pingris, Kerby Raymundo and Sonny Thoss are expected to have a ball in the week-long All-Star event. JUN MENDOZA

Intal, Guevarra and Espiritu won titles in the UAAP-NCAA All-Stars, and basketball watchers don’t discount the possibility of these homegrown players pulling the rug from under the fancied Fil-Am dunkers.

Four-time winner KG Canaleta opted not to go for a fifth title.

Macapagal defends his three-point shootout title against four former champs and four other fearsome gunners.

Two-time winner Jimmy Alapag and former one-time kings James Yap, Dondon Hontiveros and Ronald Tubid lead the cast of shooters out to foil Macapagal’s quest for back-to-back top honors.

Mark Cardona, Joe Devance, Ronjay Buenafe and Sunday Salvacion complete the high-powered roster figuring in a one-round elimination phase with the top three advancing to the finals and automatically qualifying for the Legends Three-Point Shootout versus Allan Caidic, Alvin Patrimonio and Ato Agustin.

Alapag said all of them can light up the board on a good night, thus the contest is a toss up among all entries.

In the Obstacle Course, Villanueva defends the crown against Alapag, Ross, Urbiztondo, Ronjay Buenafe, Alex Cabagnot, Willie Miller, LA Tenorio and Gary David.

Villanueva ended Miller’s title reign last year, topping the event in 31.7 seconds. Miller came in second at 34.7 seconds and Buenafe third at 37.1.

Curiously, Buenafe had the best time of 31.7 seconds during the elims, followed by Miller at 32.0 and Villanueva at 32.8.