Coach Yeng Guiao during a huddle with Team Scottie at Iloilo Sports Complex ahead of Sunday’s All-Star Game in Passi City. Denison Dalupang/INQUIRER
ILOILO CITY—Kevin Alas will be helping a Team Scottie that has only one bonafide big man, but the NLEX gunner is hardly fazed.
A first-time All-Star, Alas said that a thin frontline should allow the crew to play an uptempo game when it collides with Team Japeth in the main event of the 2023 PBA All-Star Weekend at the City of Passi Arena.
The festivities are scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m., starting off with the final duel of a local 3×3 showcase.
“We only have one legit center in Christian Standhardinger, and I think that’s an advantage for us because the fans are expecting the All-Star game to be fast-paced, high-scoring, and exciting with dunks and everything,” he told the Inquirer.
After the Ginebra star, NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino and Magnolia’s Calvin Abueva are the only logical options who could play as big men. The next tall player would be San Miguel’s Marcio Lassiter, a 6-foot-2 marksman who is used to playing the wing position.
Team Scottie has an outrageously rich pool of guards. Aside from the league’s reigning Most Valuable Player and Alas, the squad also features Jayson Castro, CJ Perez, Robert Bolick, Stanley Pringle, Mark Barroca, and Iloilo hero James Yap.
“As coach Yeng (Guiao) said, every time we get a rebound, let’s just run the ball,” Alas shared.
“That’s what the fans went for after all: To watch exciting basketball,” he added.