Nothing like All-Star tour

Cagayan de Oro City will never be the same again after the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) ends its five-day visit with the All-Star Game at the Xavier University gym tomorrow night.

The PBA invasion began last Tuesday with the opening of "Jam Ball," an interactive cage extravaganza that’s the local version of the National Basketball Association’s "Jam Session."

Fans couldn’t get enough of participating in the fun events, visiting the various exhibit booths and even singing in the videoke bar. At night, there was "archive" showing of classic PBA games on a giant screen.

Yesterday morning, PBA commissioner Noli Eala led the visiting delegation of league officials, players and coaches in paying courtesy calls on Gov. Oscar Moreno and Mayor Vicente Emano. The players were then split in making afternoon stops in La Pasan, Divisoria and Cogon. Last night, the city threw a rousing "street party" for the guests to officially launch the All-Star festivities.

This morning, the players will distribute gifts to orphans at the Bahay Tahanan and visit the drug abuse section of the Northern Mindanao Medical Center. After lunch at Leo’s Bar and Grill, they’ll make an appearance to sign autographs at "Jam Ball."

The action kicks off late this afternoon with five skills events–the obstacle challenge, the trick shot, the shooting stars, the 3-point shootout and the slam dunk–and the Rookies versus Sophomores blitz game.

Ronald Tubid, Mike Cortez, Denok Miranda, Mark Caguioa, Paul Artadi, Topex Robinson, Dondon Hontiveros, Alex Cabagnot and Willie Miller are entered in the obstacle challenge where the contestants race against time in completing tests of shooting, passing and dribbling. Rob Johnson won the event two years ago and Robinson, last year.

Defending champion Paolo Hubalde, Miller, Tubid, Jimwell Torion and Jay-Jay Helterbrand will vie for honors in the trick shot which is a modified "h-o-r-s-e" competition.

Shooting stars is a new four-team event where a PBA player joins a celebrity and a local government partner in trying to sink shots from six locations on the floor. The winner is the team that is able to knock down the shots in the fastest time. John Arigo, Noy Castillo, Lordy Tugade and Tony de la Cruz will anchor the four teams. Manny Pacquiao was invited to play as a celebrity but begged off because of a commitment to appear with Oscar Larios in a press conference at the ABS-CBN complex in Quezon City this morning.

The 3-point shootout will showcase the long-range bombing of defending champion Jimmy Alapag, Ren-Ren Ritualo, Nic Belasco, Will Antonio, Caguioa, James Yap, Larry Fonacier and Olsen Racela. The top three automatically qualify to challenge legends Jojo Lastimosa, Boybits Victoria and Ric-Ric Marata in the aperitif to the All-Star Game tomorrow.

Niño Canaleta returns to defend his slam-dunk crown against 2003 titlist Brandon Cablay, 2004 king Cyrus Baguio and Arigo. This is the event that’s expected to steal the show. Canaleta promises to tomahawk, windmill, double-clutch, hang-in-the-air and do whatever else is necessary to retain the title that he insists is his exclusive property. Cablay, Baguio and Arigo, however, aren’t awed by the highlight dunks that KG unraveled last year.

In the Rookies versus Sophomores blitz game, it’ll be a razzle-dazzle affair of four 10-minute quarters, an 18-second shot clock and limited timeouts. A dunk, incidentally, will be counted for three points.

Fonacier, Cabagnot, Mike Holper, Miranda, Canaleta, Paolo Bugia, Mark Cardona and Leo Najorda will play for the Rookies coached by Art de la Cruz. The Sophomores are Sonny Thoss, Rich Alvarez, Marc Pingris, Artadi, Wesley Gonzales, Ranidel de Ocampo, Bitoy Omolon and Denver Lopez. Nash Racela will call the shots for the Sophomores who won, 122-106, last year behind Omolon’s 37 points and six dunks. Canaleta had 36 points and six dunks.

Tomorrow morning, coach Norman Black will conduct a clinic with the PBA stars for kids. Lunch will be at Tabing Dagat Opol then the hostilities reel off at 3 with Gov. Moreno’s team up against a selection of PBA officials, broadcasters and sportswriters. Media Bureau Chief Willie Marcial will coach the PBA side whose mainstays include Eala, Perry Martinez, Nelson Beltran, Jason Webb, Paolo Trillo, Richard del Rosario and Mico Halili.

The Legends shootout is scheduled before the 6 p.m. tip-off for the North versus South All-Star Game.

Coca-Cola’s Binky Favis will coach the North squad made up of Romel Adducul (will not play due to injury), Danny Ildefonso, Enrico Villanueva, Caguioa, Helterbrand, Kerby Raymundo, Ali Peek, Racela, Belasco, Arigo, Ritualo and Miller. Adducul will be on the bench in civvies–he is scheduled to undergo surgery for the removal of a cyst in his heel next week. It will take at least three months before Adducul is able to play again.

San Miguel Beer’s Joseph Uichico will coach the South team composed of Eric Menk, Asi Taulava, Danny Seigle, James and Roger Yap, Dorian Peña, Alapag, Hontiveros, Rafi Reavis, Baguio, Reynel Hugnatan and Noy Castillo.

Last year, the North edged the South, 131-128, as Helterbrand bagged MVP honors with 38 points, six rebounds, 10 assists and three steals in 27 minutes.

Wherever the PBA goes, it leaves a lasting impression on the fans that the pro league is theirs to enjoy and embrace. The All-Star tour is the PBA’s best bet to deliver the message that it’s here to stay, that it’s as strong as ever and that it exists for the fans.