‘Greats vs Stalwarts’ clash ushers in 2016 PBA All-Star weekend

Games Friday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:15 p.m. – Skills challenges

7 p.m. – Greats vs Stalwarts

MANILA, Philippines – Alvin Patrimonio, Johnny Abarrientos and Ronnie Magsanoc lead stars of the past in a curious mix with the present and future stars while Sen. Manny Pacquiao provides an extra punch in the kickoff events of the 2016 PBA All-Star Spectacle at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.

Ed Daquioag, Mac Belo, Roger Pogoy and Raphael Banal are among PBA D-League top guns showing their wares with the PBA legends and PBA newcomers in the All-Star Friday main highlight Team Greats versus Team Stalwarts Blitz Game.

Curtain raiser is the Skills Challenge where Terrence Romeo, Rey Guevarra and Jeric Fortuna defend their titles in the 3-point shootout, slam-dunk contest and obstacle challenge, respectively.

James Yap, Jeff Chan, Alex Cabagnot, Jayjay Helterbrand, KG Canaleta and Troy Rosario are among the exciting players participating in the skills competitions starting at 4:15 p.m.

The Blitz Game, participated in by Pacquiao as a replacement to the injury-hit LA Revilla, is set at 7 p.m.

Pacquiao, Patrimonio and Magsanoc team up with Banal, Chris Banchero, David Semerad, Raymond Almazan, Mike Tolomia, Russel Escoto, Bryan Cruz, Nic Belasco and Topex Robinson at Team Stalwarts.

Abarrientos, Daquioag, Belo and Pogoy, meanwhile, compose Team Greats with Maverick Ahanmisi, Kevin Alas, Anthony Semerad, Ian Sangalang, Jonathan Grey, Noli Locsin, Richard del Rosario and Bong Ravena.

The Blitz Game, introduced in 2012 in Laoag featuring legends Patrimonio, Abarrientos, Allan Caidic, Leo Isaac, Kenneth Duremdes, Ato Agustin, Jojo Lastimosa and Olsen Racela, was shelved last year for the return of the Rookies versus Sophomores duel.

It is revived this year with the inclusion of the PBA D-League stars, among the highlights of the return of the annual PBA mid-season spectacle at the Big Dome for the first time in seven years.

A part of the festivities are meet-and-greet sessions of the PBA All Stars with the fans around the Araneta Center during the all-star weekend.

The traditional biggest treats to fans during the All-Star Friday are exciting competitions among the league’s pistoleros and high-flyers.

Romeo is likely to have his hands full defending the three-point shootout crown versus Yap, Chan, Cabagnot, Rosario, Canaleta, Helterbrand, RJ Jazul, Almond Vosotros, Garvo Lanete and Simon Enciso.

It will be a five-way showdown in slam dunk among Guevarra, James Forrester, Moala Tautuaa, Franklin Bonifacio and Chris Newsome.

Slugging it out for the Obstacle Challenge are titleholder Fortuna and challengers Ahanmisi, Banchero, Newsome, Emman Monfort, Scottie Thompson, Chris Ross, Mark Barroca, Carlo Lastimosa, Mark Cruz and Jai Reyes.

The All-Star Weekend culminates with the North-vs-South All-Star Game on Sunday with Romeo, Mark Caguioa, Marc Pingris, Japeth Aguilar and Calvin Abueva leading the North team’s bid to repeat their victory in Puerto Princesa, Palawan last year.

Romeo, Caguioa, Pingris, Aguilar and Abueva make up coach Yeng Guiao’s starting unit versus coach Leo Austria’s Yap, Thompson, Greg Slaughter, June Mar Fajardo and Joe Devance.

Coming off the bench for the North team are Rosario, Cabagnot, Jayson Castro, Gabe Norwood, Paul Lee, Ranidel de Ocampo and Stanley Pringle.

The South team’s reserves are Chan, Ross, Barroca, Lastimosa, JR Quinahan, Jericho Cruz, RR Garcia and Asi Taulava in his all-time record 14th All-Star participation.