It's that time of the year again when the brightest stars gather as the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association All-Star week kicks off.
The PBA is headed down south for the first leg of the week-long festivities.
The Mindanao All-Stars meet the Gilas Pilipinas National Team in Digos at the Davao del Sur Coliseum at 7:30 p.m. today.
The hometown Mindanao All-Starts will be bannered by starters Mark Barroca, Jio Jalalon and Peter June Simon of Magnolia, Scottie Thompson of Barangay Ginebra and Mac Belo of Blackwater in a guard-heavy line-up.
Joining them as reserves are Baser Amer (Meralco), Rafi Reavis (Magnolia), Cyrus Baguio (NLEX), Sonny Thoss (Alaska), JP Erram (Blackwater), RR Garcia (TNT KaTropa) and Carlo Lastimosa (Columbian Dyip).
They will go head-to-head against a National Team side composed of starters June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer, Japeth Aguilar of Barangay Ginebra, Troy Rosario of TNT KaTropa, Calvin Abueva of Alaska and Terrence Romeo of GlobalPort.
The rest of Gilas members for this leg are Carl Cruz (Alaska), Gabe Norwood (Rain or Shine), Allein Maliksi (Blackwater), Matthew Wright (Phoenix), Roger Pogoy and Jayson Castro (TNT KaTropa) and Kiefer Ravena (NLEX)
The game will also feature a classic coaching encounter between veteran mentors Tim Cone and Norman Black.
Cone will handle the Mindanao All-Stars, while Black will do the coaching chores for the Nationals for this leg.
As an added spectacle, a special Legends Shootout will be held prior to the game featuring four sets of tandems.
Allan Caidic will team-up with Secretary Bong Go, Kenneth Duremdes will have Senator Manny Pacquiao on his side, Peter June Simon will be joined by Presidential Son-in-Law Mans Carpio and Scottie Thompson will be partnered by Major Michale Sabsal.
Davao governor Mark Cagas will be a special guest and is set to handle the ceremonial toss.
