BACOLOD – The main event of the 2024 PBA All-Star Weekend is taking place on Sunday with Team Mark and Team Japeth competing at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum.
Here’s everything you need to know about Sunday’s festivities in the ‘City of Smiles.’
Where to watch
Time: 5:15 p.m.
Venue: University of St. La Salle Coliseum
Broadcast: RPTV, PBA Rush, Pilipinas Live
Shooting Stars
The day begins with the Shooting Stars side event with three teams competing in a race against time to score on designated spots within the court. Courtside reporter Apple David and his team with Inquirer sportswriter Jonas Terrado, and two more persons from the LGU and a fan will try to make it back-to-back.
David will be going up against fellow courtside reporters Bea Escudero and Belle Gregorio, with the two other participants also having their own teams of a PBA Press Corps member, LGU, and fan.
Dance-off
Before the game, the two All-Star teams will first battle in a dance-off that has become a yearly tradition. Both teams are taking the competition seriously that Japeth Aguilar even hired a choreographer in hopes of winning the cash prize.
Aguilar is the defending champion after winning in Passi, Iloilo.
All-Star Game
Team Mark will face Team Japeth in the main event of the weekend, with Mark Barroca of Magnolia and Japeth Aguilar of Barangay Ginebra serving as team captains after securing the top two spots during the voting period.
Barroca’s team will look to play the spoiler's role in Aguilar’s bid for back-to-back wins in the All-Star Game. Aguilar won in Passi, Iloilo after beating Team Scottie, 140-136, behind the efforts of Paul Lee, who won the All-Star Game MVP.
Team Japeth, however, has been hounded with injuries. Christian Standhardinger, Scottie Thompson, and Tyler Tio are not seeing action.
Lee though has been picked by Aguilar once again to provide the offensive firepower for his team along with Calvin Oftana, fresh from his win in the NUSTAR 3-Point Shootout.
Barroca’s squad will be led by seven-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo and Commissioner’s Cup Best Player of the Conference and Finals MVP CJ Perez.
Team Mark: Jorge Gallent (coach), June Mar Fajardo, Jason Perkins, CJ Perez, Robert Bolick, Jio Jalalon, Ian Sangalang, James Yap, Calvin Abueva, Jayson Castro, Gabe Norwood, Ricci Rivero, Cliff Hodge, Juami Tiongson, Nards Pinto.
Team Japeth: Tim Cone (coach), Aris Dionisio (replacement to Scottie Thompson), Paul Lee, Calvin Oftana, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Don Trollano, Marcio Lassiter, Arvin Tolentino, Maverick Ahanmisi, Roger Pogoy (replacement to Tyler Tio), Stanley Pringle, Terrence Romeo.
All-Star format
To add spice to the game, each dunk will be three points. A second long distance line was also laid out and a basket beyond that area is worth four points.
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