Hey, See you at the PBA All-Star Game

When I was young, I wanted to be a basketball player.

Well, that's because you don't have to finish school, you play ball all your life, date pretty ladies and you'll get paid a six-digit monthly salary by doing that.

With a 5'3 body and a tummy as big as a basketball, I retired the idea after I got two twisted elbows in two different occasions. But the love for the game continues. I love basketball (collegiate, pro or international ball) and consider it the best thing that was ever invented since cheer leaders.

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) granted Mall of Asia Arena the exclusive rights to host the 2014 PBA All-Star Weekend on April 3 – 6, 2014 at the Mall of Asia Arena and selected SM Supermalls.

The PBA All-Star Weekend is the annual assembly of the best players of the PBA playing various events such as the 3-point shootout, skills competition, shooting completion by All-Star Game.

Highlights of the weekend are PBA Greats vs Stalwarts and Skills Challenge game on April 4, 2014 and PBA All-Stars vs Gilas Pilipinas game on April 6, 2014. Other activities will include basketball clinics, hospital visits, medical visits, meet and greet, referee clinics and coaches clinics.

The PBA All-Stars is composed by reigning PBA Most Valuable Player Arwind Santos; Rookie of the Year Calvin Abueva; PJ Simon and Joe Devance of the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers, Marcio Lassiter of the San Miguel Beermen, Nino Canaleta of the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters, and Sonny Thoss of Alaska. San Mig Super Coffee guard James Yap and Mark Barroca are joined by Ginebra bigs Mac Baracael, Chris Ellis, and Greg Slaughter as the PBA All-Star starters based on votes from the fans.

Gilas includes Jimmy Alapag, LA Tenorio, Jayson Castro, Larry Fonacier, Gary David, Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Japeth Aguilar, Marc Pingris, Ranidel De Ocampo, June Mar Fajardo, and Marcus Douthit. The original Gilas 12 will be backed up by Paul Lee, Beau Belga, and Jared Dillinger.

Other events to look forward to are the (1) the Slam Dunk competitions featuring depending chapion Chris Ellis, teammate Aguilar, Santos, Rey Guevarra, Abueva, Cliff Hodge, and small but high-leaping Justin Melton.

Chris Tiu will be defending his Three-Point Shootout crown against David, Lassiter, Yap, Fonacier, Baracael, Mac Cardona, JVee Casio, Ronjay Buenafe, and Mark Macapagal.

In the Skills Challenge, the participants are defending champion Jonas Villanueva, Casio, Tenorio, Lee, Barroca, Castro, Willie Miller, Terrence Romeo, John Wilson, and Mercado.

The festivities will start with a game between the PBA Greats and PBA Stalwarts, which are mash-ups for past and present PBA stars.

The Mall of Asia Arena, operated by SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc., has a seating capacity of 15,000, with a full-house capacity of 20,000. It has been the venue for world class concerts and sports events in the country. The Mall of Asia Arena, through to its commitment to change the game and elevate entertainment for the Filipino audience, guarantees a world-class events and entertainment experience to its audience.

You can buy tickets at SM Tickets outlets nationwide or visit their website at https://www.smtickets.com/.