Dionisio makes All-Star debut in Bacolod
Magnolia forward Aris Dionisio is set for his maiden appearance in the PBA All-Star Game this weekend in Bacolod City.
Dionisio, one of the most reliable backups for the Hotshots, has been tapped to replace Ginebra star Scottie Thompson, who is sidelined by a back injury, in the Team Japeth selection battling Team Mark in the showcase match on Sunday.
The 6-foot-4 Dionisio is the only Magnolia player other than veteran Paul Lee in the squad captained by Japeth Aguilar and coached by Tim Cone.
Their Hotshots teammates – Mark Barroca, Jio Jalalon, Ian Sangalang and Calvin Abueva – are on the other side of the fence bannering Team Mark.
With Dionisio seeing action in the All-Star Game, he turned over his spot in the Three-Point Contest for Big Men to fellow Magnolia frontliner James Laput.
The PBA delegation, meanwhile, leaves for the City of Smiles tomorrow and launches the event in a courtesy call and press conference kickstarting a series of activities lasting through Sunday.
Friday’s itinerary includes a basketball and referees’ clinic, school visit and meet and greet with fans while the Skills Events (Obstacle Challenge, Three-Point Shootout Big Men version and ThreePoint Shootout Guards edition) and the Team Greats versus Team Stalwarts game featuring the top rookies, sophomores and juniors highlight Saturday’s schedule.
Then it’s Team Japeth versus Team Mark Sunday at the University of La Salle to cap off the 2024 staging of the mid-season extravaganza, which the pro league revived last year in Passi, Iloilo after a pandemicforced hiatus of three years.