Trillo to call shots for PBA selection vs Gilas in All-Star

MANILA, Philippines – Alaska coach Luigi Trillo, only in his second year in PBA coaching, has been tapped to handle the PBA selection that will play Gilas Pilipinas in the 2013 PBA All-Star Game in Digos, Davao del Sur in May.

Trillo, who became a PBA head coach only in the last Governors Cup, got the honor and privilege to be an All-Star mentor based on his team’s performance in the last Philippine Cup.

Talk n Text’s Norman Black was first on the line but begged off since he’s part of the Gilas Pilipinas coaching staff. Rain or Shine’s Yeng Guiao and San Mig Coffee’s Tim Cone also begged off due to prior commitments.

The 2013 PBA All-Star Week is set in Digos, Davao del Sur in the middle of the semifinals of the current Commissioner’s Cup.

San Mig Coffee’s James Yap and PJ Simon, Ginebra’s Mark Caguioa and Kerby Raymundo, Petron Blaze’s Arwind Santos, Meralco’s Macmac Cardona, Globalport’s Willie Miller, Barako Bull’s Danny Seigle, Alaska’s Cyrus Baguio and Jayvee Casio, Rain or Shine’s Beau Belga, Paul Lee and JR Quinahan, and Air21’s KG Canaleta and Mike Cortez are among the leading candidates for the PBA selection.

The PBA is deviating from the Veterans vs RSJs format for this year’s All-Star Game to help the national team in its buildup for the coming FIBA Asia Championship.

The pro league has done the same in 1998 and in 2009 for the same purpose of helping the Nationals in their preparation for an international competition.

The PBA is again holding a Legends Game as preliminary to the All-Star Sunday main event. Among those invited to play in the Legends Game this year are Benjie Paras, Jerry Codinera, Marlou Aquino, Bong Hawkins, Bong Ravena, Rodney Santos, Art dela Cruz. Among the participants last year were MVP winner Ato Agustin, triple-double performer Johnny Abarrientos, Alvin Patrimonio, Kenneth Duremdes, Allan Caidic, Jojo Lastimosa, Olsen Racela and Leo Isaac.