ILOILO - No less than five beloved sons of this province make a homecoming and try to make their fellow Ilonggos proud as they lead the PBA Visayas All Stars versus Smart Team Phl in the closing game of the 2018 PBA All-Star Extravaganza at the San Agustin Gym here Sunday night.
James Yap, Ronald Tubid, Jericho Cruz, Emman Monfort and Kiefer Ravena banner the Visayan selection that gives Team Phl its final test in this three-leg mid-season classic presented by Phoenix Fuel with Phoenix Pulse Technology and backed by Peak Sports Apparel, Molten, PBA Rush-Cignal, Nature's Spring, TAGHeuer, Gatorade, and Rain or Shine.
Yap is actually from Escalante, Negros Occidental but spent his high school years with Hua Siong College of Iloilo. Tubid, Cruz, Monfort and Ravena are true-blue Ilonggos, Jeff Chan is from the nearby Bacolod while Mac Belo has roots from Roxas City.
All are raring to bring joy and excitement to the Iloilo folks in the 6:30 p.m. game serving as the finale of the series with earlier stops in Digos, Davao del Sur and in Batangas City.
The national pool split its first two games, falling in a 130-144 upset by the Mindanao All Stars on Wednesday in Digos before bouncing back with a 152-149 triumph over the Luzon selection Friday in Batangas largely behind Terrence Romeo's record-setting 48-point performance.
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In the finale, Romeo has a shot at tying Vergel Meneses' record collection of four MVP plums. The TNT KaTropa guard was the best among the best in the 2015 All Stars in 2015 in Puerto Princesa, in Lapu-Lapu City last year and in Friday's Batangas City stop of the current All-Star series.
Others donning the Smart jersey here under coach Nash Racela are Belo, Japeth Aguilar, Troy Rosario, Carl Bryan Cruz, Gabe Norwood, Matthew Wright, Allein Malicsi, RR Pogoy, Jio Jalalon, Jason Castro and Calvin Abueva.
Meanwhile, June Mar Fajardo, Greg Slaughter, JR Quinahan, Chris Ross and Asi Taulava complete the Visayas All-Star team of coach Chito Victolero.
Gilas Pilipinas prevailed over the Visayas All Stars, 125-112, last year in Lapu-Lapu City.
"This is my first game in Iloilo since my last playing year here in 2000. And so I'm so excited," said Yap.
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"I was 11 when the previous PBA All Stars was played here in 2000 and I was inspired. Hopefully, this PBA All Stars also serves as inspiration to the Iloilo youth," said Monfort.
"I've played in Iloilo as a PBA player just once in my rookie year with Shell in 2003. I'm looking forward to a memorable moment in this homecoming of mine," said Tubid.
