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ISANG makasaysayang pangyayari ang PBA All-Star Game na gagawin bukas sa Mall of Asia Arena sa Pasay City .
Sinabi ng tserman ng PBA board of governors na si Ramon Segismundo na ngayong taong ito ang ika-25 na anibersaryo ng All-Star Game na unang inilunsad ng liga noong 1989.
“This is a historic game for the PBA because it’s the 25th anniversary of the All-Star Game,” wika ni Segismundo. “And it’s also historic for the PBA to hold the game in a venue like the Mall of Asia Arena with its world-class amenities.”
Sa unang All-Star Game noong 1989, tinalo ng Veterans ang Rookies-Sophomores, 132-130, dahil sa tira ni Ramon Fernandez mula sa pasa ni Robert Jaworski bago ang busina.
Sa All-Star Game bukas ay maghaharap ang Gilas Pilipinas at ang PBA All-Stars bilang suporta ng liga sa national team na naghahanda para sa FIBA World Cup sa Espanya at ang Asian Games sa Korea sa Setyembre.
“We have a tight schedule this year which is why we are holding the All-Star Game in Manila unlike in the past when we held it out-of-town,” ani Komisyuner Chito Salud. “This way, we can finish our season ahead of time so that Gilas can train as early as possible.”
Nangako naman ang head coach ng All-Stars na si Tim Cone na pahihirapan ng kanyang koponan ang national team ni coach Chot Reyes.
Nagtabla ang dalawang koponan sa 124 sa All-Star Game noong isang taon sa Digos, Davao del Sur.
“I’m really thrilled to coach these young All-Stars,” ani Cone. “We’re here to make Gilas better and we’re also here for the fans. We hope to play well for the fans who have supported us.”
Ang Gilas ay babanderahan nina LA Tenorio, Larry Fonacier, Ranidel de Ocampo, Jayson Castro, Marc Pingris, Gary David, Marcus Douthit, Gabe Norwood, Jeff Chan, Junmar Fajardo, Beau Belga, Paul Lee, Jared Dilinger, Japeth Aguilar at Jimmy Alapag.
Ang All-Stars naman ay pagbibidahan nina Greg Slaughter, James Yap, Mark Barroca, Mac Baracael, Chris Ellis, Arwind Santos, Calvin Abueva, Sonny Thoss, Marcio Lassiter, KG Canaleta, Joe Devance at Peter June Simon.
Ni JAMES TY III
