THE PBA All-Star pitting the North and South squads may be entertaining in nature, but one thing sure, players promise to compete and give the fans a game worth remembering when they close the Weekend festivities on Sunday at the Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur.
Game time is at 7:30 p.m. as the pro league reverts to the North and South format since adopting the Team Japeth versus Team Scottie and Team Japeth versus Team Mark in the last two All-Star Weekends held in 2023 and 2024.
San Miguel Beer’s Leo Austria and TNT’s Chot Reyes, two of the PBA’s most successful shot callers, will be coaching the North and South teams, respectively.
Austria, the four-time PBA Coach of the Year, will have team captain Japeth Aguilar leading the way.
The North side is a healthy mixture of veterans and young and upcoming PBA stars, who are capable of providing outside shooting and inside firepower.
Other major weapons at Austria’s disposal include Calvin Abueva, rookie Juan Gomez De Liano, wingman CJ Perez, Stephen Holt, Justine Baltazar, Adrian Nocum, Chris Newsome, CJ Cansino, Gian Mamuyac, Justin Arana, and Don Trollano.
Reyes on the other hand, will have make do with a squad, that won’t have Scottie Thompson and Jericho Cruz due to injuries, as well as Roger Pogoy, who is attending to a family matter.
Still, the South All-Stars remain a formidable bunch led by nine-time PBA Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo, Calvin Oftana, RJ Abarrientos, Robert Bolick, JB Bahio, Caelan Tiongson, Leonard Santillan, Alec Stockton and Rey Nambatac.
Rain or Shine wingman Leonard Santillan also said he expects the All-Star game to be competitive.
“We will be competitive, we want to win,” he said.