PBL stars strut individual stuff in Showcase today

The brilliant set plays, the wild chases, the banging of wide bodies and some other highlights that make the PBL a byword these days take a backseat today as the league’s top stars display their individual flair in the Showcase of the 2003 Platinum Cup at the Pasig Sports Center.

Leading an array of hardcourt heroes that will vie for top honors in the annual event are Welcoat’s James Yap and Marc Pingris, Fash Liquid’s Allan Salangsang and LA Tenorio, Sunkist-UST’s Alex Compton and ICTSI-La Salle’s Marc Cardona.

Aside from the three-point shootout which is the centerpiece event, other competitions on tap are slalom, slamdunk and two-ball.

"After almost three weeks of bone-jarring but exciting action, it’s time for our players to display their individual skill and I’m sure it’s going to be a fun-filled day," said commissioner Chino Trinidad.

"This is a bonus to their legion of fans."

Serving as an appetizer in the league’s much-awaited Showcase is the exhibition match between the SEA Games-bound Philippine team and Angola at 12 noon.

The Angolans, the seven-time African champions, are here as part of their buildup for next year’s Athens Olympics.

Yap, the soft-spoken 23-year-old pride of Bacolod City, tries to underline his growing reputation as the league’s deadliest shooter when he competes in the three-point shootout which is expected to generate more interests from the fans.

Certainly, it won’t be easy for Yap.

Considering that he will be up against Compton who is also clutch shooter like himself, the event will be a thriller.

Also seeing action in the three-point shootout are Salangsang, ICTSI’s Jun-Jun Cabatu, Montana’s Christian Coronel, Blustar Detergent’s Ismael Junio, Viva-FEU’s Jeff Napa and UST-Sunkist’s Jemal Vizcarra.

KG Canaleta of Blustar will defend his title in the slam dunk contest but he’s expected to meet stiff competition from Pingris. Also seeing action in this contest are Fash’s JC Intal, ICTSI’s Sonny Thoss, Montana’s Francis Rauschmayer, Viva-FEU’s Arwind Santos and Sunkist-UST’s Danny Pribhdas.

Blustar’s Lou Gatumbato tries to keep his crown in the slalom that will also feature some the league’s quickest players-like Tenorio, ICTSI’s Tyrone tang,

Welcoat’s Marlon Kalaw, Montana’s Ronjay Enrile, Blu’s Edrick Ferrer, Viva’s Joshua Reyes and Sunkist-UST’s Edsel del Rosario.

Salangsang and Peter June Simon is again the team to beat in the 2-ball competition along with teammates Larry Fonacier and Wesley Gonzales.

But the duo of ICTSI-La Salle’s Mark Cardona and Joseph Yeo is also expected to figure prominently in this event. Also joining in their contest are Welcoat’s Ariel Capus and Mac Cuan, Montana’sJigger Saniel and Christian Baluyot, Blustar’s Eric dela Cuesta and Gatumbato, Viva-FEU’s Don Yabut and Jobin Garcia, Sunkist-UST’s Emerson Oreta and Christian Luanzon.