GAMES WEDNESDAY
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
5 p.m. – NLEX vs. TNT
7:30 p.m. – Terrafirma vs. Ginebra
IT will surely be a dampener if the PBA scrapes the annual All-Star festivities this year, on its golden anniversary.
Commissioner Willie Marcial announced last week that the mid-year spectacle set initially for May 2 to 4 in Panabo City, Davao Del Norte has been postponed due to uncertainties and security concerns in the province amid political tension.
“Ang All-Star natin as of now, postponed sa Davao dahil sa security concern at iyong sinasabi ng organizers na oras,” Marcial said. “May mga pangyayari na hindi natin kontrolado.
“Tiningnan natin iyong makakabuti para sa karamihan kaya natin pinostpone,” he added.
Asia’s first play-for-pay league, which commemorated its 50th founding anniversary last April 9, moved heaven and earth and worked hard for the event with Davao Del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib and Panabo City Mayor Jose Relampagos before opting to err on the side of caution and cancel the All-Stars in the Mindanao province known for producing bananas.
Marcial said the league is considering holding the All-Stars in another province in the Visayas, but due to time constraints, it could possibly be staged shortly after the May 12 mid-term elections.
Passi City in Iloilo and Bacolod hosted the past two editions of the All-Stars.
“May isang probinsya na, tingnan natin kung maaayos. Pero kapag hindi within two weeks or after the Holy Week, baka ma-cancel ang All-Star natin,” the effervescent pro league chief said.
“Baka—baka pa lang ha—sa Visayas. Hindi pa sigurado. In talks pa kami. Kasi kaunting oras na lang iyong pagitan.”
The All-Star game is supposed to feature the revival of the classic Rookies-Sophomores-Juniors versus Veterans format.
If everything fails, Marcial said the PBA has a backup plan.
“Tinitingnan namin kung ano ang puwede. All-Star pero baka hindi basketball. Parang fund raising lang sa mga players. Tingnan natin,” he said. “Kasi maikli na. Matatapos tayo ng July.
“So, kailangan, before June, makagawa na tayo ng All-Star. Kapag July, may Gilas na sa August. Dire-diretso na iyon. So, kaunti lang ang leeway natin.”
They say sports and politics don’t mix, but they do in this case. Legions of true-blue PBA fans can only now hope the All-Stars will still push through.
Any takers?
