|
BACOLOD CITY—KG
Canaleta will be aiming to establish a record that will
be hard to surpass or even match, while gunner Dondon
Hontiveros will also try to repeat in the 2008
Smart-Philippine Basketball Association All-Star Weekend
at the West Negros College Gym.
Canaleta,
the exciting and graceful forward of Air21, is gunning
for a piece of history when he goes for a
fourth-straight Slam-Dunk crown.
Hontiveros, Magnolia’s ever-reliable clutch scorer, on
the other hand, attempts for a back-to-back three-point
shooting championship.
Sta.
Lucia Realty’s Kelly Williams, who failed to advance to
the Finals after two missed between-the-legs attempts in
the semifinals in La Union last year, is expected to be
better this time and provide the former University of
the East star a tough challenge.
Canaleta
won a record third title by beating Talk ’N Text’s Jay
Washington last year.
Also
competing in the slam-dunk contest are former champion
Joey Mente (2002) of Welcoat Paints, Reynel Hugnatan of
Alaska, Air21’s Arwind Santos and Ginebra’s Ronald Tubid
of Ginebra.
Hontiveros, the ace guard of Magnolia Beverage, is also
expected to encounter interesting challenge in the
three-point Shootout.
Other
participants in the event are James Yap (Purefoods),
Ren-Ren Ritualo (Talk ’N Text) John Arigo (Coca-Cola),
rookie Joe Devance (Welcoat), Michael Hrabak (Red Bull),
Nelbert Omolon (Sta. Lucia), Junthy Valenzuela (Ginebra)
and Willie Miller (Alaska).
Miller,
the reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP), will defend his
Obstacle Challenge title against Red Bull’s Topex
Robinson, Alaska teammate L.A. Tenorio, Mike Cortez of
Magnolia, Coca-Cola rookie Ronjay Buenafe, Purefoods’s
Chico Lañete, Marvin Cruz of Air21, Sta. Lucia’s Ryan
Reyes and Tubid.
Meanwhile, the Blitz Game featuring the Rookies versus
the Sophomores is expected to be an exciting encounter.
Leading
the league’s newcomers are De Vance, Reyes and Buenafe,
while the second-year players will have Tenorio, Jay-Arr
Reyes, Mark Isip and Jireh Ibanez of Welcoat, Jun-Jun
Cabatu and Tenorio of Alaska, Chris Pacana of Ginebra,
Red Bull’s Magnum Membrere and crowd favorite Mark
Andaya.
Tenorio,
JunJun Cabatu (Alaska), Jireh Ibanez (Welcoat), Chris
Pacana (Ginebra), Mark Isip (Welcoat), Magnum Membrere
(Red Bull) and crowd favorite Mark Andaya (Red Bull)
make up Reyes’ supporting cast with the sophomore squad.
Behind
the 31-point explosion of
Santos
last year, the Rookies triumphed over the Sophomores,
122-107, for their breakthrough win in the event first
introduced in the All-Star three years ago.
The
All-Stars Game, centerpiece event between the North
and South teams is scheduled on Sunday. |
