IT’S not exactly the biggest event of the year. But a fiesta-like atmosphere awaits the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) delegation when it sets foot in Bacolod City next week for the annual All-Star Weekend.

Bacolod City hosts the league’s midseason spectacle that will serve as centerpiece event of the annual Panaad Festival.

 Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the people of the city and the province of Negros Occidental are eagerly looking forward to the double celebration, a first in the history of the 238-year-old city.

The Smart-PBA All-Star Weekend is set from April 24 to 27 at the West Negros College, while the Panaad Festival will be celebrating its 15th year from April 26 to May 3.

“It is with great pride and honor for the City of Bacolod to be this year’s host of the PBA All-Star Weekend,” said Leonardia, whose effort to bring the yearly cage spectacle to the province was held in coordination with West Negros College president Suzette Agustin.

The PBA’s ambassadors of goodwill, led by Purefoods deadshot James Yap, will be exhibiting basketball at its finest during their four-day visit to the city, while the 10-day festival will feature an array of theme booths showcasing the history, arts, culture, trade, investments and tourism of the 32 towns and cities of Negros Occidental.
Leonardia added the PBA All-Star Weekend, also supported by Pigrolac, Mighty Bond, Coke and Yakult, will also stir enthusiasm among the local folks. Besides providing entertainment, the league’s stars are also scheduled to hold charity activities, do some tree-planting and promote the importance of ecological system in the environment.

The All-Star Weekend caps its Bacolod swing with the staging of the All-Star game between the North and the South teams.

Yap leads the cast of the South All-Star squad, which also has for starters Kelly Williams, Danny Seigle, Asi Taulava and Jimmy Alapag.

The South All-Stars is also composed of Cyrus Baguio, Dondon Hontiveros, Reynel Hugnatan, Peter Simon, Sonny Thoss and Junthy Valenzuela.

The entire North team, meanwhile, is made up of Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand, Mark Pingris, Kerby Raymundo and Lordy Tugade, with the reserves made up of Nic Belasco, Mac Cardona, Ranidel de Ocampo, Willie Miller, Ryan Reyes, Arwind Santos and Rico Villanueva.

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IT’S not exactly the biggest event of the year. But a fiesta-like atmosphere awaits the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) delegation when it sets foot in Bacolod City next week for the annual All-Star Weekend.

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