Aguilar, Almazan, Sangalang shore up Luzon All-Stars' frontline

MANILA, Philippines – Former Gilas members are set to bolster the Luzon selection when it hosts the current iteration of the national team during the Luzon stop of the  PBA All-Star week.

Raymond Almazan and Ian Sangalang form a frontcourt trio with Japeth Aguilar for the Luzon team of coach Leo Austria as it tries to neutralize the steady presence of June Mar Fajardo and Nationals in the May 25 encounter in Batangas City. 

Both Almazan formerly served the nationals helmed by coach Chot Reyes. Sangalang, on the other hand, was once a member of the training pool.

Aguilar was voted as a starter for the Luzon All-Stars during the event along with Barangay Ginebra teammate LA Tenorio, Calvin Abueva of Alaska, Paul Lee of Magnolia, and Jayson Castro of TNT Katropa, who takes the place of the injured Marc Pingris.

Stanley Pringle of GlobalPort, Phoenix’s Matthew Wright, and the San Miguel's trio of Arwind Santos, Marcio Lassiter, and Alex Cabagnot make up the rest of the team. 

Joining Fajardo in the national team roster are TnT Katropa’s Terrence Romeo, Roger Pogoy, and Troy Rosario, Alaska's Carl Bryan Cruz, Blackwater's Mac Belo and Allein Maliksi, Rain or Shine's Gabe Norwood, Magnolia’s Jio Jalalon, and NLEX's Kiefer Ravena.

The Batangas phase of the three-leg spectacle--which will also have stops in Mindanao (Davao del Sur) and the Visayas (Iloilo)--is also set to mount the obstacle challenge, the three-point shootout, and slam dunk contest.

Maliksi will be back to defend his three-point shootout title against a cast that includes former champions Romeo and James Yap, Lassiter, Paul Lee, Wright, Larry Fonacier, Garvo Lanete, Ronald Tubid, Stanley Pringle, LA Tenorio, and JV Casio.

Chris Newsome, on the other hand, aims for a back-to-back slam dunk crown when he goes up against the likes of Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Renz Palma, Marion Magat, Lervin Flores, Jackson Corpuz, and former winners Norwood and Rey Guevarra.

The Obstacle event is expected to bring the house down as it features big men doing the challenge. Competing are Sonny Thoss, Aguilar, JP Erram, Kelly Nabong, Russel Escoto, Ken Bono, Asi Taulava, Doug Kramer, Aldrech Ramos, Beau Belga, Yancy de Ocampo, and Yousef Taha.