More from PBA All Star Weekend
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 24 Apr 2010
With Asi ?The Rock:? Taulava and Eric ?Major Pain? Menk alternating at the slot, coach Tim Cone?s South looks to have edge in height when it meets the north Selection today, capping the three-day PBA All-Star Weekend at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum here.
The 6-foot-9 Taulava of Coca Cola and the 6-6 Menk of Barangay Ginebra, incidentally, are the most seniors citizens of the 12 men chosen by fans and PBA coaches that make up to represent the country?s North and south divisions in the annual series.
Taulava, who turned 37 last March 2, and Menk, a year younger at 36, are, likewise, both playing in their ninth All-Star appearance and are expected to utilize their experience if only for the Southerners to show the way to the Northerners.
Both are also former league?s Most Valuable Player just like teammates Kelly Williams and the Visayas? and Mindanao?s favorite son James Yap of the All-Filipino champion Purefoods (now B-Meg), thus, making Cone?s charges more star-studded than their counterparts from Luzon.
What they lack in ceiling, the Southerners will make up with firepower and speed as their main assets having the league?s most prolific shooters in their lineup besides boasting of with a pair of MVPs Jayjay Helterbrand of popular club Barangay Ginebra, last year?s best player, Willie Miller of Alaska Milk.
Providing additional scoring suck will be Mark Cardona of Talk ?N Text, Arwind Santos of San Miguel Beer, the Kings? JC Intal and Ranidel de Ocampo, also of the Tropang Texters, who are all among the scoring leaders in their respective teams in the on-going Fiesta Cup.
Rounding out the North roster are Mark Pingris, who like his Derby Ace teammate James Yap is the highest vote getter in coach Ryan Gregorio?s selection, Paul Aradi and Rico Maeirhofer of B-Meg, Gabe Norwood and Solomon Mercado of Rain or Shine and Ryan Reyes of Sta. Lucia.
Reinforcing James yap and company?s South are, besides Taulava ,Menk and Williams are Cyruys Baguio of Ginebra, Jimmy Alapag of TNT, Roger Yap of B-meg, Reynel Hugnatan of Alaska Milk, Dondon Hontiveros of SMB, Sonny Thoss f Alaska, Jse de Vance of Alaska and Ronald Tubid of Ginebra
Cone, in cidentally, is in his seventh All-Star appearance and will try to improve on his 4-3 win-loss record sin the annual series.
Asked about the South?s chances against the North, Taulava had a modest objective ? go out and entertain the crowd.
?The All-Star Game is showtime for the fans. It?s a perfect avenue for us to entertain them and give them a treat," said Taulava.
?It?s also a good chance for us to get away from our usual routine wherein we?re tied up within a system. It?s more of a free flowing game in the All-Stars," he added.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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