PBA heads to Davao del Sur for All-Star week

Photo from PBA.ph

The PBA All-Star Week takes the spotlight anew as the league invades Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao for the staging of the annual midseason spectacle beginning on Wednesday.

Led by commissioner Willie Marcial, delegates and officials, including members of the Mindanao All-Star and the Smart All Star Philippine team, will troop to Digos, Davao del Sur beginning Tuesday for the May 23 kickoff leg of the mid-season classic.

The Davao del Sur Coliseum hosts the 7p.m. match pitting the national team mentored by Norman Black against the Mindanao selection of coach Tim Cone.

As an added treat, a shootout between legends will be held before the game featuring four shooting tandems in Allan Caidic and Secretary Bong Go, Kenneth Duremdes and Senator Manny Pacquiao, Peter June Simon and Presidential son-in-law Mans Carpio, and Scottie Thompson and Major Michael Sabsal.

Governor Mark Cagas will be a special guest at courtside to open the initial leg of the three-phase event.

“It’s an honor and privilege to be the host of the 2018 All-Star game opener. We hope to give PBA fans a treat and set the perfect stage for another exciting week of basketball ahead,” said Cagas.

From Davao, the contingent travels up north to Batangas City for the second leg on May 25.

As appetizer to the 7 p.m. game at the Batangas City Coliseum between coach Leo Austria’s Luzon All-Star against the national team to be handled by Yeng Guiao, are the various skills competitions such as the Obstacle Challenge, Three-Point shootout, Slam Dunk Contest, and the Shooting Stars will be held.

The All-Star week culminates in Iloilo City with the Visayas All-Stars of coach Chito Victolero tangling with Nash Racela and the Philippine squad at San Agustin gym.

Apart from basketball-related activities, which includes basketball clinics, players will also do courtesy calls, motorcades, outreach programs, and meet-and-greet with fans throughout the week.