‘Small’ guys get All-Star starting spots

THE Smart Gilas team’s biggest problem during international meets was height. It will be a problem again for its former players who will make up the starting unit of the Rookies/Sophomores/Juniors squad for the PBA All-Star weekend.

Dylan Ababou, Chris Lutz, Marcio Lassiter and JVee Casio, who play either the guard or wing positions in the PBA, were voted into the starting unit of the RSJ squad, reuniting the members of the Smart Gilas national team.

The fifth starter isn’t of much help either height-wise as B-Meg playmaker Josh Urbiztondo earned the fans’ nod for the 2012 PBA annual All-Star game in Laoag City next month.

Barangay Ginebra’s Ababou will likely start at center for the Bo Perasol-coached RSJ, with Petron’s Lutz at power forward. They will go up against the Veterans pair of Arwind Santos (Petron) and Marc Pingris (B-Meg) at the low blocks.

Completing Chot Reyes’ starting unit with the Veterans are James Yap and JC Intal of the Llamados and Mark Caguioa of Ginebra.

Perasol (Powerade) and Reyes (Talk ‘N Text) nailed the All-Star coaching spots when they steered their squads to the Philippine Cup Finals won by the Texters.

Casio, the no. 1 overall pick in the last Draft, topped the voting among fans with a total of 45,038. The coaches of the eight other teams will pick the bench of the RSJ and Veterans.