PBA All Star reserves named

MANILA, Philippines – All Star coach Tim Cone will have his San Mig nucleus in this year’s PBA All Star team that will challenge Gilas Pilipinas on April 6 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

After former two-time MVP James Yap and Philippine Cup Finals MVP Mark Barroca were voted by the fans to the starting five, their teammates Joe Devance and PJ Simon followed suit as they were selected by the league’s coaches as reserves.

The four San Mig players played key roles in the Mixers’ back-to-back title run with Cone surpassing his coaching idol Baby Dalupan as the winningest coach in the league history with 16 championships.

Joining Devance and Simon are Alaska’s Calvin Abueva and Sonny Thoss, San Miguel Beer’s Arwind Santos and Marcio Lassiter with Talk n Text gunslinger Nino Canaleta rounding up the All Star subs.

Brgy. Ginebra players got three players in the starting five with top overall pick Greg Slaughter, Chris Ellis and Mac Baracael joining forces with Yap and Barroca.

Related story: Ginebra, San Mig stars lead PBA All Stars vs Gilas

Originally, Slaughter and Lassiter were part of the Gilas pool but withdrew their names at the start of the national team’s once-a-week practice in preparation for the FIBA World Cup and Asian Games.

Slaughter got the most number of votes in this year’s mid-annual classic with 61,680 followed by Ellis (44,630), Barroca (38,628), Yap (38,620) and Baracael (33,756). 

It will mark the second straight year that the league is using this format. The All Star game between last year’s PBA selection against Gilas ended in 124-all in Digos, Davao del Sur where Santos and Gilas gunner Jeff Chan emerging as co-MVPs.

The Gilas Pilipinas will be bannered by the FIBA Asia roster composed of Jimmy Alapag, FIBA Asia mythical five member Jayson Castro, LA Tenorio, Gary David, Chan, Larry Fonacier, Gabe Norwood, Ranidel de Ocampo, Marc Pingris, Japeth Aguilar, Junemar Fajardo and Marcus Douthit.

FIBA Asia top reserve Beau Belga will join the Gilas team in the All Star festivities alongside new recruits Paul Lee, Jared Dillinger.