Starpower

Encore
(Photo credit: Aktv)

While we have always been critical of the PBA All Star Game format for some of the players who are voted/ selected, we will be the first ones to admit that we don’t mind a fun-filled weekend wherein we are able to see our favorite players ham it up, dance, dribble and dunk with the 4th d, defense, being the last thing in play.

Voted as the North All Stars starters are:  Terrence Romeo, Mark Caguioa, Calvin Abueva, Marc Pingris and Japeth Aguilar. They will be joined by Jayson Castro, Alex Cabagnot, Gabe Norwood (Marcio Lassiter’s replacement), Paul Lee, Ranidel de Ocampo, Stanley Pringle and Troy Rosario, and coached by Rain or Shine’s Yeng Guiao.

For the South, it will be San Miguel’s coach Leo Austria and starters James Yap, Scottie Thompson, Greg Slaughter, June Mar Fajardo and Joe Devance. Coming off the bench are Jeffrei Chan, JR Quinahan, Jericho Cruz, Chris Ross, Mark Barroca, RR Garcia, Carlo Lastimosa and Asi Taulava.

Do we like the rosters?
Damn right we do. We basically have most of the guys who have been playing on a high level this season included in the PBA ASG most of whom come from the champion teams San Miguel and Rain or Shine. We would have wanted Vic Manuel to be given his due, but he’s been battling injuries most of the season and wasn’t posting his usual numbers last conference.

Also, is this the 2nd time that Lassiter has begged off the PBA ASG? Someone tell him this isn’t Gilas already.

As for guys that made the PBA ASG that we are not entirely sold on… Scottie Thompson’s been averaging what? Chris Newsome’s been better on the court (literally, because Thompson is still riding the Ginebra doghouse as what every other dutiful rook does in Coach Tim Cone’s system). Jericho Cruz had a monstrous Commissioner’s Cup and has all the tools to eventually become a big time contributor, but yeah. Not sold on him yet.

We are extremely happy for JR Quinahan, RR Garcia and Carlo Lastimosa. Quinahan’s lost a lot of weight, put up the numbers in limited minutes, and has been a lot better than Gilastopainter Extra Rice, Inc. buddy Beau Belga this whole season. Young guns Garcia and Lastimosa also deserve their spots, being the “main men” of Phoenix and Blackwater, respectively (until Garcia was traded to Star of course).

Snubs?

Well, there’s Newsome for Meralco, maybe Mike Cortez for BW (he’s the main reason that team looks and plays organized basketball) and L.A. Revilla for Mahindra (who reportedly suffered an injury and will be replaced by Senator-boxer-coach Manny Pacquiao in the sideshow game).

We are rooting for the North, since our boys, Romeo, Lee, Abueva and Pingris are there, but we wouldn’t really mind a win by the South just as long as we get a highly entertaining, close-game.

Also, could this be the "passing of the torch" for PBA flag bearers Caguioa and Yap? We are looking at Romeo and Abueva for the North, and you have Garcia and Lastimosa from the South. Of the four, Abueva has his own, gung-ho style that separates him from the kids but if you look at Romeo, Garcia and Lastimosa-- they are the TV-friendly, masa-types who can be the league's next big attractions.

Sorry, ang tahimik kasi masyado ni Jayson Castro at ang "boring" daw ng TNT para siya maging idol ng lahat. Kahit best PG in Asia pa daw.

Castro's pretty much the humor-less version of the talented Willie Miller. Could've been the face of the PBA, but for some reasons out of his control (was traded to one too many teams perhaps? Or was too goofy?) just wasn't as embraced or adored (which has nothing to do with his skill level, because Miller's arguably the most fundamentally sound and talented of all PBA guards ever EVER in our book).

Moving forward, we hope the PBA could add more attractions. We have a few ideas, someone from their team needs to hit us up on Twitter @kilikilishot !