Team Japeth battles Team Mark in All-Star
TEAM Japeth takes on Team Mark in the centerpiece game to highlight the 2024 PBA All-Star Weekend this Sunday at the University of St. La Salle gym in Bacolod City.
Skippered by Ginebra’s shot blocking big man, Aguilar’s Team Japeth won last year’s edition in Passi City, Iloilo, after nosing out Team Scottie, 140-136, in an electrifying back-and-forth All-Star Game with Paul Lee emerging as the Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Come Sunday, Aguilar hopes to keep his team’s pristine record alive, this time with Barroca’s Team Mark as their main rival in their 6:30 p.m. match.
Tim Cone will again be at the helm for Team Japeth, while San Miguel Beer’s Jorge Gallent will be calling the shots for Team Mark in his All-Star coaching debut.
Team Mark has the size to dominate the paint what with Barroca’s side having the likes of seven-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo manning the paint, along with Magnolia’s Ian Sangalang and Calvin Abueva, along with Phoenix’s Jason Perkins and first time All-Star Cliff Hodge.
Team Japeth won’t have prime banger Christian Standhardinger, who was a late scratch for this year’s All-Star showpiece, but Aguilar’s squad has a bevy of long-range gunners who could give Team Mark a run for their money.
Lee, TNT’s Calvin Oftana and Roger Pogoy, San Miguel’s sharp-shooters Marcio Lassiter and Terrence Romeo, along with NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino will bring firepower for Team Japeth, while Jamie Malonzo is the lone legitimate big.
An added sidelight is James Yap, who is set to make his unprecedented 18th AllStar appearance as he plays for Team Mark.