Tim Cone tries to test the mettle anew of the Philippine men’s team when he calls the shot for the Mindanao selection during the kickoff leg of the PBA All-Star week later this month.
The All-Star team battles the national squad in Digos, Davao del Sur on May 23 to set off hostilities in the mid-season classic that will also tour the cities of Batangas on May 25 and Iloilo on May 27, respectively.
In last year’s All-Star edition, Cone handled the Visayas selection that went down against a scrappy national team that rallied from as much as a 15-point deficit to pull off a 125-112 win.
Cone will now have a new collection of players at his disposal to get even against the national team in the annual festivities which counts on Phoenix Fuel with Phoenix Pulse Technology as major sponsor.
Voted as starters for Cone’s team during the event backed by Peak Sports Apparel and PBA RUSH-Cignal are Ginebra player Scottie Thompson, the Magnolia trio of Mark Barroca, Peter June Simon, and Jio Jalalon, along with Blackwater big man Mac Belo.
The rest of Cone’s unit include Baser Amer, Cyrus Baguio, Sonny Thoss, Rafi Reavis, Poy Erram, RR Garcia, and Carlo Lastimosa.
The Mindanao selection though, will have its hands full against the PH team bannered by June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Troy Rosario, Calvin Abueva, and Terrence Romeo.
Completing the cast of coach Chot Reyes are Carl Bryan Cruz, Gabe Norwood, Allein Maliksi, Matthew Wright, Roger Pogoy, Jayson Castro, and rookie Kiefer Ravena.
It was Abueva and Romeo who sparked the national team’s comeback against Visayas in last year’s All-Star as the duo finished with 26 and 25 points, respectively.
