MANILA – The PBA All-Star game to be held in Passi City, Iloilo from March 9-12 is veering away from the traditional North All-Stars versus South All-Stars format, according to PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial.
Instead, the league will copy the NBA All-Star format where the two players who have the most votes from the fans will serve as team captains and they will form their squads via drafting.
“Mamimili ang fans ng 24 (players). Kahit na anong position. Dun sa top 24, yung dalawa gagawin nating captain ball,” Marcial said. “Yung dalawang captain ball mamimili sila ng players doon sa 22 (na natira) para makabuo ng team.”
Marcial further said that a coin flip will be used to determine which of the two captain balls is going to pick first, while the two coaches handling the All-Star teams will also be determined through fan voting.
Fan voting for the 24 cagers that will play in the All-Star game started last Wednesday (January 25) and will last until February 15 through online and in the game venues.
A Rookie-Sophomore-Juniors All-Star game will also be held to be determined through fan voting, too. The two squads are to be reinforced with two guest celebrities each from TV5.
“Baka dalawa or tatlong celebrities (per team), pero depende pa sa mga schedule nila. Pero nag-usap na kami ng TV5 na maglalaan sila ng celebrities,” the PBA commissioner said.
Marcial also said that the local government unit of Passi City is also planning to have a 3×3 basketball competition among local teams that will be supervised by the league.
“Kausap din namin ang Passi City and gusto rin nilang maglaro ng 3×3 pero mga local teams. PBA lang ang magsu-supervise at magpapalaro, pero mga taga-Iloilo teams ang sasali,” Marcial said.
This marks the return of the PBA’s annual festivity, which also features Shooting Stars, Skills Challenge, Three-Point Shootout, Slam Dunk Competition, after it was not held the last three years due to COVID-19./PN
