PBA All Star Weekend 2011: Baguhan kontra Beterano

Makapag pa cute pa kaya ang iba dito
 pag hindi sila nasama sa All Star Veterans? Tampuhan na!

With the undeniable influx of superstar-worthy talent by virtue of the SMART Gilas program in the 37th season of the PBA, calls for a return to the tried and tested Rookies-Sophomores-Juniors vs Veterans format soon became the norm. And just as PBA commissioner Chito Salud has taken after his father's "audience first" stance, we have been granted the return of the aforementioned PBA All Star Main Event.

And holy crap are we in for the biggest Pinoy basketball spectacle in over a decade or what?! Here's this writer's 13-15 man line-up if the ASG were held TODAY that is just too good to be true:

Rookies Sophomores Juniors

PG Paul Lee
SG Chris Lutz
SF Marcio Lassiter
PF Nonoy Baclao
C Japeth Aguilar

PG Jayvee Casio
SG John Wilson
SF Dylan Ababou
PF Mac Baracael
C Rico Maierhofer

PG Rob Labagala
PG Mark Barroca
SF Allein Maliksi
C Rabah Al Husaini (injured)

Veterans

PG Willie Miller
SG Gary David
SF Arwind Santos
PF Joe DeVance

C Sonny Thoss

PG Alex Cabagnot
SG Mark Caguioa
SF Gabe Norwood

PF Kelly Williams

C Asi Taulava

PG Sol Mercado
SG James Yap
SG Jayjay Helterbrand
PF Jay Washington (injured)

On the RSJ squad, the first five guys I listed are definite shoo-ins to become future PBA hall-of-famers (okay, the jury's still out on Nonoy Baclao who's lost in the Petron shuffle and is now masquerading as a center). On the Veterans' corner, I actually had a hard time in coming up with a list because there are guys who are having a great year as well (i.e. Jayson Castro, Jeffrei Chan) but like it or not, there's just no way in hell that James Yap, regardless of the pedestrian (yet efficient) numbers he's been putting up lately misses an ASG. Ditto with the Ginebra tandem of Helterbrand and Caguioa who could very well be playing their last conference/ season together.

Eric Menk's name will probably make the final cut, but I sure hope that it won't be the case this ASG weekend because it would be a shame if he took Joe DeVance or Sonny Thoss' spot.

Wow. Just wow. Even if you took out the injured guys (Alapag, Washington), there are other vets who could easily fill-in the gaps without sacrificing the starpower (this way, we get to really watch the best veterans represent the PBA product and show the youngsters how it's done.)

Some subplots to look out for?

• Sol Mercado VS Paul Lee (no brainer). 
• Will the Gilas boys even pass the ball to Lee (and vice versa)
• How many old guys will Japeth Aguilar posterize
• Can Gary David takeover the All Star Game
• Who will stop Joe DeVance from dancing like a crazy person
• Cabagnot-Caguioa passing the ball to one another
• Whose head will Kelly Williams rip-off with a thunderous dunk

Ayos! Be sure to visit the PBA.ph website to vote for your All Stars. Or, since we're all fans of the game, click HERE.