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Electrifying jam artist KG Canaleta and deadshot Dondon
Hontiveros are returning to the 2008 Smart-Philippine
Basketball Association (PBA) All-Star Weekend to defend
their respective individual titles before an expected
banner crowd at the West Negros College in Bacolod City.
Canaleta,
the exciting and graceful forward of Air21, is aspiring
for a place in the league’s history book as he goes for
a fourth-straight Slam Dunk crown, while Hontiveros,
Magnolia’s ever-reliable clutch scorer, attempts for a
back-to-back three-point shooting championship.
The two
events, along with the Obstacle Course contest with
charismatic Alaska guard Willie Miller as defending
champion, are part of the skills-challenge competitions
featured in the midseason spectacle also supported by
Pigrolac, Mighty Bond, Coke and Yakult and set from
April 24 to 27.
The
high-flying Canaleta has already etched his name in the
history book of the annual classic by claiming an
unprecedented third-straight slam title last year in San
Fernando, La Union, by outclassing Talk ’N Text’s Jay Washington in
the final.
Not to
be outdone, Hontiveros reigned from downtown by beating
Miller in a thrilling shootout.
A former
dunk champion and the player many considered one of the
best aerial artists in the league today will challenge
Canaleta in his bid for All-Star history.
Welcoat
guard Joey Mente, the 2002 slam king, and Sta. Lucia’s
Kelly Williams lead the cast of leapers who will
showcase their abilities in the slam-dunk competition.
Completing the list are
Alaska’s
Reynel Hugnatan, Air21’s Arwind Santos and Barangay
Ginebra’s Ronald Tubid, the three-point shootout king in
2003.
Just as
remarkable are the roster for the three-point Shootout
that has the likes of James Yap (Purefoods), RenRen
Ritualo (Talk ’N Text) John Arigo (Coca-Cola), rookie
Joe de Vance (Welcoat), Michael Hrabak (Red Bull),
Nelbert Omolon (Sta. Lucia), Junthy Valenzuela (Ginebra)
and Miller.
Out to
dethrone Miller for the Obstacle Challenge title are Red
Bull’s Topex Robinson, Alaska teammate LA Tenorio, Mike
Cortez of Magnolia, Coca-Cola’s Ronjay Buenafe,
Purefoods’ Chico Llanete, Marvin Cruz of Air21, Sta.
Lucia’s Ryan Reyes and Tubid.
Meanwhile, the complete lineup for the Blitz Game
featuring the Rookies vs. Sophomores has also been
announced, with de Vance leading the freshmen and JR
Reyes showing the way for second-year players.
Joining
de Vance—the year’s top overall pick—in the Rookie squad
are Buenafe, Cruz, Llanete, No. 2 pick Samigue Eman (San
Miguel), Doug Kramer (Air21), Yousif Aljamal (Talk ’N
Text) and Ken Bono (San Miguel).
Tenorio,
JunJun Cabatu (Alaska),
Jireh Ibañez (Welcoat), Chris Pacana (Ginebra), Mark
Isip (Welcoat), Magnum Membrere (Red Bull) and crowd
favorite Mark Andaya (Red Bull) make up Reyes’s
supporting cast with the sophomore squad.
The
annual classic is organized by the “City of Smiles,”
through the effort of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio
Leonardia and West Negros College president Suzette
Agustin.
The PBA
entourage leaves for
Bacolod
on Thursday via Cebu Pacific. |
