MANILA, Philippines -- TWO of the pro league’s successful coaches in the past decade will be calling the shots in the PBA All-Star Games when the midseason showcase moves to Candon City, Ilocos Sur from March 6 to 8.
Leo Austria, who has won all 10 of his PBA titles with San Miguel Beer (SMB) that began in the 2014-15 season, will handle the North All-Stars, while Chot Reyes will be coaching the South squad.
Austria and Reyes are currently leading their respective PBA teams in the ongoing All-Filipino conference finals, with SMB and TNT out to break its 2-2 series deadlock on Friday in Game 5 in Antipolo.
Reyes, the seven-time PBA Coach of the Year, got the nod to handle the South All-Star team during the official drawing of lots presided by league commissioner Willie Marcial and Candon City Mayor Eric Singson at halftime of Game 4 of the Philippine Cup Finals at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
From there, the coaching task for the North squad went to Austria.
Interestingly, Reyes will be coaching San Miguel star center June Mar Fajardo, at least in the All-Star Game.
Of course, the 6-foot-10 Fajardo, who just captured a record-setting 13th Best Player of the Conference award, is not new for Reyes, since the Kraken has been part of the outspoken TNT mentor’s past Gilas Pilipinas squads.
This year’s All-Star Weekend will also mark the return of the classic North vs South format in Candon City, along with the Rookies/Sophomores vs Juniors.
The other side events to spice up the midseason spectacle will also feature the Three-point Shootout, two Obstacle Challenges for the big men and guards, and Shooting Stars event where four city mayors will take part.
“It will be the biggest one (sports event) not only in Candon, but the whole province; I think the whole Region 1, since this is the 50th anniversary of the PBA, at the same time All-Star Game,” Singson said in a statement.
Fajardo, the PBA’s nine-time league Most Valuable Player, along with Barangay Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar led the All-Star balloting for the South and North squads’ respectively.
On the other hand, Titan Ultra’s energetic forward Calvin Abueva emerged as the most popular All-Star player that Ilocanos want to see in a separate vote among 22 municipalities in Ilocos.
