PASSI CITY, Iloilo – Raymond Almazan will lead the five injury replacements for Team Japeth in their 2023 PBA All-Star Weekend exhibition match with Team Scottie this Sunday at the City of Passi Arena here.
The Meralco Bolts center was announced by the PBA as the replacement to San Miguel Beermen big man June Mar Fajardo, who suffered an injury while playing in the East Asian Super League in Japan last week.
Fajardo, a six-time PBA MVP awardee, was also replaced by Beermen teammate Jeepy Faundo in the Big Man Obstacle Challenge which will be played this Friday at the same venue.
Also joining Team Japeth were Rain or Shine Elasto Painters’ Gabe Norwood, TNT Tropang Giga’s Calvin Oftana, Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots’ Jiovani Jalalon and Terrafirma Dyip’s Alex Cabagnot.
The four will replace Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings’ Japeth Aguilar and LA Tenorio, Beermen’s Terrence Romeo and Tropang Giga’s Mikey Williams, who were all nursing injuries.
Almazan, Norwood, Oftana, Jalalon, and Cabagnot were tapped as injury replacements as they finished just behind the top 24 vote getter by the end of the All-Star Games voting period held Jan. 25 to Feb. 15.
Bacolod City-native Jeffrei Chan of NorthPort Batang Piet was actually ahead of Oftana, Jalalon, Cabagnot and Almazan in voting but he begged off from participating in the event.
The rest of Team Japeth, to be handled by Gin Kings coach Tim Cone, were Ginebra’s Jamie Malonzo, Jeremiah Gray and Nard John Pinto, Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome, TNT’s Roger Pogoy, Magnolia’s Paul Lee and Painters’ Gian Mamuyac.
The opposing Team Scottie of Painters mentor Joseller Guiao has Negrense James Yap of the Painters, Gin Kings’ Earl Scottie Thompson, Stanley Pringleand Christian Standhardinger, Hotshots’ Calvin Abueva and Andy Mark Barroca, Beermen’s Jaymar Perez and Marcio Lassiter, Batang Pier’s Robert Bolick Jr. and Arvin Tolentino, NLEX Road Warriors’ Kevin Alas and TNT’s Jayson Castro.
Batang Pier’s reserve guard Kent Salado, meanwhile, was also tapped for the Rookie / Sophomore / Juniors team replacing Dyip center George Isaac Go, who is still recovering from his ACL tear injury./PN
