CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur – PBA 50th Season All-Star Weekend officially begins on Friday with skills challenges and the Rookies and Sophomores vs. Juniors game at the Candon City Arena.
To get you up to speed on exactly what will happen, here are the details.
PBA ALL-STAR FRIDAY
When: Friday, March 6. 5:30 p.m.
Where: Candon City Arena, Ilocos Sur
Obstacle Challenges
There will be two obstacle challenges which will feature bigs and then guards. Last edition’s champion JM Calma returns, and challenging him are some of the best forwards and centers in the league.
Leading the way is Barangay Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar, and he will also be up against Justin Arana of Converge, Santi Santillan of Rain or Shine, Geo Chiu of Terrafirma, Brandon Ramirez of NLEX, Kai Ballungay of Phoenix, Brandon Bates of Meralco, James Laput of Magnolia, Abu Tratter of Blackwater, Henry Galinato of TNT, and Damie Cuntapay of Titan Ultra.
Juan Gomez de Liano of Converge, Robert Bolick of NLEX, RJ Abarrientos of Ginebra, and Rey Nambatac of TNT will be the attraction for the battle among guards. They will be up against Dalph Panopio of Blackwater, Jerom Lastimosa of Magnolia, CJ Cansino of Meralco, Evan Nelle of Phoenix, Felix Lemetti of Rain or Shine, Juami Tiongson of San Miguel, Jerrick Ahanmisi of Terrafirma, and Fran Yu of Titan Ultra.
Three-Point Shootout
TNT's Calvin Oftana comes back to defend his crown. He will be challenged by a number of the best outside shooters in the game, including Marcio Lassiter of San Miguel, who will try to finally capture the title that has eluded him over the years despite having the distinction as the player with the most three-point shots made in league history.
Gomez de Liano brothers Juan and Javi will also be competing against each other, together with Ralph Cu of Ginebra, Sedrick Barefield of Blackwater, Xyrus Torres of NLEX, Francis Escandor of Phoenix, Andrei Caracut of Rain or Shine, King Caralipio of Titan Ultra, and Cansino of the Bolts and Ahanmisi of the Dyip.
While this is a three-point shootout, there will be spots from the four-point range for additional scores.
Rookies and Sophomores vs. Juniors
The main event slated at 7:30 p.m. features the best first to third-year players in the league.
READ: Arwind, Miller, Pingris, RDO in action for PBA All-Star weekend
Competing for the Rookies and Sophomores are Sedrick Barefield of Blackwater, Jerom Lastimosa of Magnolia, Sonny Estil of Barangay Ginebra, Chris Miller of San Miguel, JM Bravo of Terrafirma, Mike Malonzo of Rain or Shine, Evan Nelle of Phoenix, Brandon Ramirez of NLEX, and Lemetti of the Elasto Painters, Ballungay of the Fuel Masters, Panopio of the Bossing, and Torres of the Road Warriors,
The Juniors will parade Ricci Rivero of Phoenix, Brandon Bates of Meralco, MJ Garcia of Converge, Cade Flores of Titan Ultra, Kenneth Tuffin of Phoenix, and Galinato of the Tropang 5G and Caralipio and Yu of the Giant Risers.
The RSJ game will implement a ‘Blitz 3’ where teams will be given three points if they score within the first seven seconds of the game.
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