Last hurrah for Alapag in PBA All-Star game Saturday

PBA All-Star starting five.

Jimmy Alapag makes his swan song as a PBA player, but the spotlight won’t just be on the Gilas Pilipinas legend as the league’s biggest stars look to put up a spectacle for its fans in the PBA All-Star Game today at Puerto Princesa City Sports Center.

More than a month after his retirement, Alapag headlines the South All-Stars who will be without injured reigning Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer.

But size is the least of coach Alex Compton’s worries as the Southerners have twin towers Asi Taulava and Greg Slaughter as starters in the 4 p.m. showdown.

Taulava has promised a fun yet competitive and physical duel against the North All-Stars, who will have Marc Pingris, Justin Melton, Jayson Castro, Calvin Abueva and Japeth Aguilar as starters.

“If they want physical, we will give them a physical game,” joked the 42-year-old Taulava, in his 13th All-Star appearance after missing out last year.

“Lets see if we can put Asi (Taulava) and Greg (Slaughter) pressing like Alaska does. Maybe we’ll post Jimmy (Alapag) up. Who knows?” he said.

San Miguel coach Leo Austria, who is calling the shots for the North All-Stars, still believes the players’ competitive edge will eventually kick in.

“All of the players deserve to be in there so definitely, they would want to play there to win,” said Austria.