Right after the Cagayan de Oro festivities, the PBA/Gilas Pilipinas delegation swings over to Lucena in Quezon for an All-Star extravaganza that will include the keenly awaited skills competitions.
The PBA Luzon selection takes its turn to challenge Gilas Pilipinas in the All-Star Friday spectacle -- sponsored by HMR Trading, Mueller, Peak, Crystal Clear, Anako, Davco, Smart, Cloudfone and Petron -- also featuring the title defenses of Rey Guevarra, Terrence Romeo and Maverick Ahanmisi in the All-Star side events.
Another highlight of the Lucena event at the Quezon Convention Center is the announcement by Gilas coach Chot Reyes of his Final 12 for the SEABA Championship slated May 12-18 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Reyes will be with PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa and Quezon Gov. David Suarez as he names the 12 players shortly after the Gilas-PBA Luzon showdown.
Matthew Wright, Bradwyn Guinto, Carl Bryan Cruz, Kevin Ferrer, Mike Tolomia, Arnold Van Opstal, Ed Daquiaog, Almond Vosotros, Jonathan Grey, Raymond Almazan, Norbert Torres and Allein Maliksi make up the Gilas roster versus the PBA Luzon selection bannered by Gilas veterans Japeth Aguilar, Calvin Abueva and Jayson Castro.
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Alex Cabagnot, LA Tenorio, Marcio Lassiter, Stanley Pringle, Jay Washington, Paul Lee, Mark Caguioa, Arwind Santos and Ranidel de Ocampo complete the PBA cast to be handled by coach Leo Austria.
Several other PBA stars are appearing in Lucena to slug it out in the slam dunk competition, three-point shootout and the Obstacle Challenge presented by Cloudfone.
Ahanmisi defends his Obstacle Challenge crown against Alaska’s Simon Enciso, Blackwater’s Roi Sumang, GInebra’s Sol Mercado, GlobalPort’s Stanley Pringle, Mahindra’s Revilla, NLEX’s Eman Monfort, Meralco’s Daquiaog, Phoenix’s RJ Jazul, Star’s Justin Melton and San Miguel’s Alex Cabagnot.
Romeo, the three-point winner in Palawan in 2015 and at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last year, tries to match Mark Macapagal’s three-peat from 2010-12 as he defends his crown against a roster of challengers led by 2013 winner Chris Tiu.
Also on the list are Alaska’s Simon Enciso, Ginebra’s LA Tenorio, Mahindra’s Gary David, NLEX’s Juami Tiongson, Meralco’s Jared Dillinger, Star’s Allein Maliksi, TNT’s Larry Fonacier, Blackwater’s Ronjay Buenafe or Michael DiGregorio and SMB’s Marcio Lassiter.
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Macapagal is the record-holder with four titles. Romeo, meanwhile, is a two-time winner like Ricric Marata, Jasper Ocampo, Boyet Fernandez and Jimmy Alapag.
Guevarra goes for a four-peat in the slam-dunk contest but he’s likely to face stiff competition against a field led by former winners Ju
