BATANGAS CITY - The Smart National Team tries to heal wounded pride, seeking to bounce back from a humbling loss to the PBA Mindanao All Stars as it takes on the Luzon selection in the Batangas leg of the 2018 PBA All Star Extravaganza at the Batangas City Coliseum here Friday night.
Team Phl, however, will be much shorter in manpower and will likely to face an even tougher challenge against the Luzon team under coach Leo Austria.
Coach Yeng Guiao takes his turn to hold the rein for the Smart All Stars who will be composed of June Mar Fajardo, Carl Bryan Cruz, Mac Belo, Allein Malicsi, Terrence Romeo, Gabe Norwood, Jio Jalalon and Kiefer Ravena in the Batangas leg of the All-Star series presented by by Phoenix Fuel with Phoenix Pulse Technology.
Japeth Aguilar, Calvin Abueva, Jayson Castro and Matthew Wright join the Luzon team also featuring LA Tenorio, Paul Lee, Stanley Pringle, Marcio Lassiter, Alex Cabagnot, Arwind Santos, Ian Sangalang and Raymond Almazan.
It's expected to be a slam bang battle ushered in by the equally exciting showdowns in the All-Star skills competitions - the three-point shootout, the slam dunk and obstacle challenge.
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Former MVP winner Asi Taulava leads the big men testing their mettle in the Obstacle Challenge.
Sonny Thoss, Raymond Aguilar, JP Erram, Kelly Nabong, Russell Escoto, Ken Bono, Justin Chua, Aldrech Ramos, Beau Belga, Gabby Espinas and Yousef Taha are also entered in one of the highlight events in this PBA mid-season festivities backed by Peak Sports Apparel, Molten, PBA Rush-Cignal, Nature's Spring, TAGHeuer, Gatorade, and Rain or Shine.
Meanwhile, title holder Maliksi and former champs Romeo and James Yap banner the cast of top guns vying for the Three-Point Shootout crown.
Also to challenge the champ are Lassiter, Lee, Wright, Tenorio, Pringle, Alaska's Jvee Casio, Columbian Dyip's Ronald Tubid, Meralco's KG Canaleta, and NLEX's Larry Fonacier.
Romeo was on course to becoming the second PBA player to win the three-point shootout three in a row last year in Lucena but was foiled on his bid by Maliksi. Yap, meanwhile, topped the event in 2009.
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To engage in a dunking battle are titleholder Chris Newsome, former champ Rey Guevarra, and challengers Mat Rosser, Marion Magat, Renz Palma and Lervin Flores.
