Foreign players fancied in slamfest: 'Jammers' spice up All Star

MANILA, Philippines - With the league’s foreign players headlining the roster, fierce competition is expected in the slam dunk competition, one of the highlights of the NCAA All Star Game tomorrow at The Arena in San Juan City.

Americans Dioncee Holts of Arellano and Mustapha Yankie Haruna of College of St. Benilde, Nigerians Allwell Oraeme of Mapua and Prince Eze of Perpetual Help and Cameroonian Laminou Hamadou are raring to showcase their rim-rattling skills in the second edition of the league’s All Star Game.

Lyceum’s Jebb Bulawan and Letran’s Rey Publico are also returning in a bid to complete what they had failed to do last year when they were beaten by Cameroonian Arnaud Noah of San Beda for the slam dunk crown.

Others joining the competition are San Beda’s Michole Sorela, San Sebastian’s Ally Bulanadi and Jose Rizal’s Kim Cyril Aurin.

Also on tap is the three-point shootout with St. Benilde’s Travis Jonson out to defend the crown he won last year when he drilled in 21 of 30 attempts in the first round and 20 of 30 in the second.

Jonson, however, is slowed down by a foot injury, hitting just six of 23 shots from beyond the arc after the first round elims.

Out to foil Jonson are Mapua’s Exeqiel Biteng, Letran’s Mark Cruz, Lyceum’s Wilson Baltazar and San Sebastian’s Ryan Costelo along with Arellano’s John Kenneth Zamora, San Beda’s Cris Soberano, EAC’s Jozhua General, Jose Rizal’s Paolo Pontejos and Perpetual Help’s Gerald Dizon.

The NCAA All-Star will be capped by the match pitting the East team headed by reigning MVP Earl Scottie Thompson and the West squad spearheaded by Letran’s Cruz, Kevin Racal and Rey Nambatac.