Mindanao Stars rout Smart Gilas
Team PH All-Stars seek redemption against Luzon AS
Games Today (Batangas City Coliseum) 4 p.m. – All-Star Side Events 7 p.m. – Smart All Stars vs North All Stars
BATANGAS CITY – The Smart National Team tries to heal its wounded pride as it seeks to bounce back from a humbling 144-130 loss in Digos City to the PBA Mindanao All Stars against the Luzon selection in the Batangas leg of the 2018 PBA All Star Extravaganza at the Batangas City Coliseum tonight.
Team PH, however, will be severely undermanned as several Smart-Gilas members will be suiting up for the Luzon selection under coach Leo Austria of San Miguel Beer.
NLEX coach Yeng Guiao takes his turn with the reins of the Smart All Stars who will be composed of June Mar Fajardo, Carl Bryan Cruz, Troy Rosario, Mac Belo, RR Pogoy, Allein Malicsi, Terrence Romeo, Gabe Norwood, Jio Jalalon and Kiefer Ravena in the Batangas leg to be presented by Phoenix Fuel with Phoenix Pulse Technology.
Japeth Aguilar, Calvin Abueva, Jayson Castro and Matthew Wright will join the Luzon team also featuring LA Tenorio, Paul Lee, Stanley Pringle, Marcio Lassiter, Alex Cabagnot, Arwind Santos, Ian Sangalang and Raymond Almazan.
It’s expected to be a slam-bang battle ushered in by the equally exciting showdowns in the All-Star skills competitions, the three-point shootout, the slam dunk and obstacle challenge.
The Mindanaoans roared to a 124-103 lead on an 18-0 run and never looked back.
Meanwhile, Terrence Romeo put another feather on his All-Star cap as he teamed up with presidential son-inlaw Mans Carpio in ruling the Legends Three-Point Shootout.
Romeo fired 24 points while Carpio contributed 9 in their winning effort as they bested the tandem of Kenneth Duremdes and Gen. Santos City Rep. Bobby Pacquiao, Allan Caidic and Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, and hometown hero Scottie Thompson and Major Michael Sabsal.
The Duremdes-Pacquiao pair scored 27 points, the Caidic-Go duo tallied 22 while Thompson and Sabsal combined for 18.