The cream of the PBA dead shots and dunk artists are all set to wow the crowd on Friday at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Also in store for Batangas fans is a rare moment where PBA big men slug it out in the Obstacle Challenge.
These skills showpieces usher in the second leg of the 2018 PBA All-Star series, pitting the Smart National Team versus the PBA Luzon All Stars.
The All-Star Game is set at 7 p.m. where coach Leo Austria has at his disposal Japeth Aguilar, Calvin Abueva, LA Tenorio, Paul Lee, Jason Castro, Stanley Pringle, Matthew Wright, Marcio Lassiter, Alex Cabagnot, Arwind Santos, Ian Sangalang and Raymond Almazan as they challenge the national squad gearing up for the third window of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
Donning the Smart Team PH jersey in Batangas are June Mar Fajardo, Carl Bryan Cruz, Troy Rosario, Mac Belo, Allein Maliksi, Terrence Romeo, Gabe Norwood, Jio Jalalon and Kiefer Ravena.
The Nationals prevailed versus the Luzon All Stars in Lucena last year.
The Batangas All-Star spectacle starts at 4 p.m. with the holding of the keenly awaited Obstacle Challenge, the three-point shootout and the slam-dunk competition.
Former MVP winner Asi Taulava leads the big men testing their mettle in the Obstacle Challenge.
Sonny Thoss, Raymond Aguilar, JP Erram, Kelly Nabong, Russell Escoto, Ken Bono, Justin Chua, Aldrech Ramos, Beau Belga, Gabby Espinas and Yousef Taha are also entered in one of the highlight events in this PBA mid-season festivities presented by Phoenix Fuel with Phoenix Pulse Technology and backed by Peak Sports Apparel, Molten, PBA Rush-Cignal, Nature’s Spring, TAGHeuer, Gatorade, and Rain or Shine.
Meanwhile, titleholder Allein Maliksi and former champs Terrence Romeo and James Yap banner the cast of top guns vying for the Three-Point Shootout crown.
Also to challenge the champ are Alaska’s Jvee Casio, Ginebra’s LA Tenorio, GlobalPort’s Stanley Pringle, Columbian Dyip’s Ronald Tubid, Meralco’s KG Canaleta, NLEX’s Larry Fonacier, Phoenix’s Matthew Wright, Magnolia’s Paul Lee and San Miguel’s Marcio Lassiter.
Romeo was on course to becoming the second PBA player to win the three-point shootout three in a row last year in Lucena but was foiled on his bid by Maliksi. Yap, meanwhile, topped the event in 2009.
To engage in a dunking battle are titleholder Chris Newsome, former champ Rey Guevarra, and challengers Mat Rosser, Marion Magat, Renz Palma and Lervin Flores.
