Members of the Gilas Pilipinas and PBA All-Stars together with the PBA governors pose for a picture during the 2014 PBA All-Star press con at the SM MOA Arena.
The PBA All Stars will give Gilas Pilipinas a taste of European-style basketball when they tangle at the 2014 PBA All Star Game on April 6.
Tim Cone, who will call the shots for the PBA selection, said they plan to run some plays against Gilas that are typically used in Europe. This way, they can help the national team familiarize with the type of games played in the FIBA Worlds.
“One of the things we want to do is run some offense that will be used against Gilas at the World Cup,” Cone told Richard Dy in a report on Spin.ph.
The American coach said they will pose a formidable challenge against the Gilas squad in order to toughen up the national team.
The PBA All Star team will be made up of starters Greg Slaughter, Chris Ellis and Mac Baracael of Ginebra, and San Mig Coffee players James Yap and Mark Barroca.
San Miguel Beer’s Arwind Santos and Marcio Lassiter, of San Mig Coffee’s PJ Simon and Joe Devance, Alaska’s Calvin Abueva and Sonny Thoss, and Talk ‘N Text’s KG Canaleta complete the All Star cast.
“We’re gonna try to compete and challenge them and make them (Gilas) better. We’ll defend and make it tough for them and hopefully, it will help them get better,” Cone said.
They will battle the Gilas Pilipinas training pool composed of the “mighty 12” Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, LA Tenorio, Gary David, Larry Fonacier, Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Marc Pingris, Ranidel de Ocampo, Japeth Aguilar, June Mar Fajardo and Marcus Douthit.
Rain or Shine’s Beau Belga and Paul Lee and Jared Dillinger of the Meralco Bolts will also be part of the Gilas team.
The 2014 PBA All-Star festivities began on Thursday and will culminate with the All-Star clash on Sunday.