THE former core of the Gilas Pilipinas cadets tests the mettle of today’s Philippine Basketball Association young guns that makes for an intriguing storyline in this week’s PBA All-Star festivity.
The Juniors team of Mac Belo and Roger Pogoy goes up against the combined Rookies/Sophomores selection of CJ Perez and Jason Perkins in the main appetizer of this year’s All-Star game in Calasiao, Pangasinan.
The match is set at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Calasiao Sports Complex following the Skills Challenge side events that features the Obstacle Race, Three-Point Shootout and Slam Dunk Contest.
Belo and Pogoy led the cadets training pool that made up the 2016 rookie batch of the league.
Joining them in the Juniors squad are Matthew Wright, Jio Jalalon, Carl Bryan Cruz, Kevin Ferrer, Russel Escoto, Ed Daquioag, Mike Tolomia, Von Pessumal, Rashawn McCarthy and Ael Banal.
Only McCarthy and Banal are not part of the Gilas cadets team.
With Perkins and Perez in the Rookies/Sophomores are Jeron Teng, Raymar Jose, Rey Nambatac, Robbie Herndon, Mark Tallo, Robert Bolick, Abu Tratter, Paul Desiderio, Trevis Jackson and Javee Mocon.
Phoenix lead deputy Topex Robinson will call the shots for the Juniors, while the coaching staff of Rain or Shine handles the Rookies/Sophomore unit.
The Rookies/Sophomores versus Juniors had been adopted in this year’s All-Star weekend in celebration of its 30th year being institutionalized as part of the league’s annual spectacle.
Shortly before the game, the Obstacle Race kicks off the All-Star side event, with Rain or Shine’s Beau Belga gunning for back-to-back titles.
Out to stop Belga on his track are June Mar Fajardo (San Miguel), Mo Tautuaa (NorthPort), Kyle Pascual (Magnolia), Jose (Blackwater), Noy Baclao (Alaska), Marion Magat (NLEX), Prince Caperal (Barangay Ginebra), Bryan Faundo (Meralco), Yousef Taha (TnT Katropa), Russel Escoto (Columbian Dyip) and Justine Chua (Phoenix).
James Yap also of Rain or Shine then tries to retain his Three-Point shootout title against some of the league’s finest marksmen in Marcio Lassiter (San Miguel), Pogoy (TnT Katropa), Wright (Phoenix), Ferrer (Barangay Ginebra), Mike Digregorio (Blackwater), Philip Paniamogan (NLEX), Robert Bolick (NorthPort), Simon Enciso (Alaska), Peter June Simon (Magnolia), McCarthy (Columbian Dyip) and Baser Amer (Meralco).
Renz Palma (Blackwater), Lervin Flores (NorthPort), Perez (Columbian Dyip) and Chris Newsome (Meralco) are out to deny defending champion Rey Guevarra of Phoenix from winning a record-tying fifth Slam Dunk title.
KG Canaleta holds the most number of “slam” titles won in the history of the PBA with five championships (2005, 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2012).
With Ramon Rafael Bonilla