Height vs mite in All-Star Game

Since the PBA All-Star Game alternated homecourts in 2004 from South to North and back again, the host team has never lost. This year, it appears the trend will hold as the South is favored to beat the North in the 19th staging of the annual extravaganza at the West Negros College gym in Bacolod City.

The contest is the culmination of the All-Star Weekend that comes to a climactic close tonight.

Sta. Lucia Realty coach Boyet Fernandez will call the shots for the South which enjoys the backing of an enthusiastic homecrowd with Negros Occidental hotshots James Yap (Escalante) and Reynel Hugnatan (Bacolod) in the lineup. Additionally, John Ferriols is a local favorite. Ferriols was the MBA’s first MVP in 1998 when he played for the Negros Slashers and as an adopted son of the province, was voted by Bacolod fans as the South’s sixth man. Fernandez is also a provincial son from Valladolid.

Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio will pilot the North whose advantage is quickness but disadvantage is lack of ceiling. 6-5 Rico Villanueva is the only legitimate center in the North while the South boasts of 6-9 Asi Taulava and 6-7 Sonny Thoss. The North’s tallest player is 6-6 forward Ranidel de Ocampo.

In terms of firepower, the North averages 15.5 points to a man compared to the South’s 14.6. The North average in age is slightly less, 27.8 to 28.7 while the South has the edge in height, 6-3 to 6-2.

With injured Danny Seigle out of action, the South will play only 11 men but the roster is still more balanced than the North. Taulava and Thoss will take turns at the slot. Hugnatan and Ferriols will rotate at power forward. Kelly Williams will move to the three spot. Yap, Cyrus Baguio, Dondon Hontiveros and Junthy Valenzuela will play off-guard while Jimmy Alapag and first-timer P. J. Simon will be the point guards. Hontiveros and Valenzuela are combo guards so they could also bring up the ball.

The North is loaded with high-scoring guards, namely, Mark Caguioa, Jay-Jay Helterbrand, Willie Miller, Mac-Mac Cardona and Lordy Tugade. Rookie Ryan Reyes, who topped the league in average steals last conference, is a defensive guard. In the frontline are Marc Pingris, Kerby Raymundo, Villanueva, De Ocampo, Nic Belasco and Arwind Santos.

As the game is expected to be free-wheeling and loose, the accent will be on offense. Both teams will try to score in the open court but to do that, there must be control of the boards and turnovers. Chemistry is crucial because teamwork will mean less mistakes, more possessions and efficient execution. It will help the North that Ginebra teammates Helterbrand and Caguioa are starters. The South will be fluid with former Talk ‘N’ Text teammates Taulava and Alapag reuniting and Alaska mainstays Thoss, Hugnatan and Ferriols on the same side.

The team that imposes its style of play over the other will be able to dictate tempo. The North is likely to run and gun while the South will play deliberate and maximize its edge in matching up. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the North resorts to playing zone. How the coaches sub will also be a factor in keeping a step ahead of the other.

For the North, the theme will be full-steam ahead with Gregorio’s thoroughbreds trying to run the South to the ground. He’ll use a three-guard formation for sure, rotating the Ginebra stars, Miller and Cardona, and step on the gas at every chance. The North will challenge the South’s interior defense and put pressure on big men like Taulava, Thoss and Hugnatan who must avoid foul trouble to stay aggressive.

For the South, Fernandez will go by the adage “height is might.” He’ll look to control the boards as a priority and preach defense, his gospel at Sta. Lucia. If the game is relatively low-scoring, the South will be more comfortable asserting its authority.

Yap will probably be set up so the hometown favorite gets to win the MVP trophy. The key is for Yap not to force his shots and just go with the flow. The shots will come his way and it’s important that he’s focused, patient and ready. A bread and butter play could be the pick-and-roll with Taulava and Alapag the perfect combination to work it.

Williams is Fernandez’ wildcard on the floor. He can play multiple positions and will fill in the gaps. Baguio is another wildcard who can distract the defense and take attention away from Yap.