Thompson leads Team East, Cruz backs Team West in NCAA All-Star

NCAA’s midseason special returns this Season 91 as the league stages the NCAA All-Star on Friday at San Juan Arena.

Team East is the team to beat as coach Jamike Jarin parades stars from San Beda, Perpetual, Arellano, Jose Rizal University, and San Sebastian.

Reigning league MVP Earl Scottie Thompson and San Beda stalwart Art dela Cruz banner the squad, together with fellow Red Lions Ryusei Koga and Michole Sorela, the Altas’ Bright Akhuetie and Gab Dagangon, the Chiefs’ Jiovani Jalalon, Zach Nicholls, and Kent Salado, the Heavy Bombers’ Tey Teodoro, Jordan dela Paz, and Abdulwahab Abdulrazak, and the Stags’ Jamil Ortuoste, Bradwyn Guinto, and Michael Calisaan.

League-leading Letran, meanwhile, leads Team West along with studs from Mapua, Lyceum, St. Benilde, and Emili Aguinaldo College while coach Aldin Ayo calls the shots.

Mark Cruz, Rey Nambatac, and Kevin Racal represent the Knights in the exhibition game, alongside Allwell Oraeme, Justin Serrano, and John Paul Nieles of the Cardinals, Joseph Gabayni, Wilson Baltazar, and Shaq Alanes of the Pirates, Jonathan Grey, Fins Saavedra, and Jeffrey Ongteco of the Blazers, and Sidney Onwubere, Francis Munsayac, and Christ Mejos of the Generals.

The All-Star Game is at 4 p.m., immediately following the three-point shootout and slam dunk contest at 2 p.m.

St. Benilde’s Travis Jonson defends his three-point crown against a tough field, which includes Cruz (Letran), Baltazar (Lyceum), John Kenneth Zamora (Arellano), Jozhua General (EAC), Paolo Pontejos (JRU), Exequiel Biteng (Mapua), Amiel Soberano (San Beda), Ryan Costelo (San Sebastian), and Gerald Dizon (Perpetual).

Meanwhile, Oraeme (Mapua), Sorela (San Beda), Dioncee Holts (Arellano), Rey Publico (Letran), Yankie Haruna (St. Benilde), Laminou Hamadou (EAC), Kim Aurin (JRU), Jebb Bulawan (Lyceum), Ally Bulanadi (San Sebastian), and Prince Eze (Perpetual) dispute the slam dunk competition.