“We’ll give them a real challenge” – Coach Chot

VICTORIAS, Negros Occidental – Powerade Team Pilipinas, gearing up for the Fiba-Asia world qualifier in China in August, returns to work as it takes on the North All-Stars in the first game of the Motolite PBA All Star Week at the Victorias Gym here Wednesday.

All indications point to the All-Star Extravaganza becoming a showdown, not just show time, with the All-Star teams vowing to give the Nationals acid tests that should help them in their buildup for the coming Asian championship.

The North All-Stars, handled by former national coach Chot Reyes and reinforced by imports Tiras Wade, Shawn Daniels and Jahmar Thorpe, are the first to challenge the Nationals at 7 p.m., kicking off a three-game series with a stop in Panabo, Davao del Norte Friday before its culmination at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City Sunday.

"We're looking forward to this All-Star. We have a noble format in this year's All-Star Week, designed to help the RP team. We owe it to coach Yeng Guiao and the national team to help them," said Reyes.

"The least we can do is to come out and give them a real challenge. If we don't play our best, we'll be of disservice to the RP team," Reyes added.

Reyes, the coach of the RP team that placed ninth in the 2007 Fiba-Asia championship in Tokushima, Japan, said he'll have the North team running set plays the Nationals will face in the international stage. "I have at least five offensive sets in mind," he said.

Coach Tim Cone, who will call the shots for the South team against versus the RP squad Friday in Panabo, has the same thing in mind.

A cash pot of P75,000 is at stake in each game, but Reyes and Cone said their main concern is to provide stiff challenge to the RP team composed of Asi Taulava, Mick Pennisi, Sonny Thoss, Kerby Raymundo, Kelly Williams, Ranidel de Ocampo, Gabe Norwood, Ryan Reyes, Willie Miller, James Yap, Jayjay Helterbrand, Jared Dillinger, Cyrus Baguio and Arwind Santos.

Guiao said they certainly welcome and will try to beat the challenge.

"It's a matter of pride for us. Losing would be an embarrassment," said Guiao. "This team would want to prove to everyone that it deserves to be called a national team. And the players in this team would also want to prove that each of them deserves the slots that they have."

Against the North team, the Nationals will be ranged against Marc Pingris, Rico Villanueva, Macmac Cardona, Paul Artadi, JayR Reyes, Gary David, LA Tenorio, Joseph Yeo and Gabby Espinas. Danny Ildefonso is in the lineup but he's skipping the game to be with his child currently under medical treatment.

On Friday, the RP squad tackles the South team composed of Dondon Hontiveros, Jimmy Alapag, Eric Menk, Dorian Pena, Jay Washington, John Ferriols, JR Quinahan, Ronald Tubid, Reynel Hugnatan, PJ Simon and imports Rosell Ellis and Jeff Varem.

Pingris, Villanueva, Cardona, Artadi, Ildefonso, Hontiveros, Alapag, Menk, Pena and Washington team up Sunday in playing the Nationals in the closing game of the All-Star Spectacle. The PBA All-Stars will also be reinforced by imports Gabe Freeman, Anthony Johnson, Jai Lewis and David Noel.


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