THE PBA is working doubly hard to salvage this year’s All-Star festivities but scraping the event looms large.
Commissioner Willie Marcial said the potential replacement venue with dates eyed for May 16 to 18 is unavailable, likely leading to the mothballing of the annual cage extravaganza.
“Most probably mawawala iyong All-Star,” Marcial said. “Hindi sila (host) puwede sa mga dates na iyon.
“Hindi sila puwede, iyong kausap namin,” the amiable pro league chief added, keeping the identity of the option close to his chest.
The mid-year classic set initially for May 2 to 4 in Panabo City, Davao Del Norte, has been placed in the back burner due to uncertainties and security concerns in the province amid political tension.
The PBA, which celebrated its 50th founding anniversary last April 9, did everything along with Davao Del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib and Panabo City Mayor Jose Relampagos for the event to push through as planned.
They eventually chose to put safety and security as the top priorities and canceled the All-Stars in the Northern Mindanao province.
The ongoing Philippine Cup and Gilas Pilipinas’ coming stint in the FIBA Asia Cup were also factors in deciding why moving the All-Stars to new but later dates cannot hack it.
By mid-June, it will already be the playoffs of the import-less tilt, followed by the semifinals and the Big Dance.
The Philippine five will see action in the Asia Cup slated Aug. 5-17 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
While the fate of the All-Stars is hanging by a thread, the PBA will hold out-of-town matches in five provinces that include a double-header at the newly-built Ynares Center in Montalban, with NLEX facing Blackwater and TNT clashing with Phoenix on May 2.
On May 18, San Miguel Beer collides with Terrafirma and Rain or Shine tackles Magnolia at the same Rizal Province-based arena.
Also counting among the league’s stops is Zamboanga City this Saturday pitting Magnolia and Phoenix.
Ginebra crosses paths with Converge at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga on May 10.
The Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur hosts the Hotshots and the NortPort Batang Pier on May 24 while Cagayan De Oro City rolls the red carpet for the Beermen and Elasto Painters on June 7.
Marcial assured the PBA is still committed to contributing to the Players’ Trust Fund, which is the annual beneficiary of the All-Star game—a solid proof of making the best of what is left.
“Pero iyong para sa Players’ Trust Fund ibibigay pa rin namin,” he said.
