Ginebra-Burger King game headlines rare PBA Monday game

MANILA, Philippines – To give way to the coming All Star week, the Motolite-PBA Fiesta Cup is set to hold a rare Monday doubleheader at the Astrodome. Defending champion Barangay Ginebra, still fresh from a rousing 94-89 beating of Rain or Shine despite playing with no import, clashes with Burger King in the 5:00 p.m. curtain raiser, while Talk ‘N Text battle the Elasto Painters in the 7:30 p.m. main game. The twinbill scheduled on a non-traditional game day is arranged by the league as it gears up for the All-Star festivities that begins on the 22nd and ends on the 26th featuring the Powerade Team Pilipines against two All-Star selections. By game time, the Kings hopefully already have a reinforcement after playing All-Filipino over the weekend against the Elasto Painters. The Kings are reportedly eyeing former North Carolina mainstay David Noel to suit up for the team after Ryan Humphrey was measured to be over the height limit of 6-foot-6. Team insiders said Noel, a member of the Tar Heels team that won the 2005 U.S. NCAA title, is expected to arrive in the country Saturday. But even without an import, the reigning champions played inspired ball, getting a game-high 24 points from Eric Menk. The Kings are also set to parade new acquisitions Cyrus Baguio and Homer Se against their former team. The two were acquired late Friday in exchange for future draft picks. The North All-star selection, coached by Tropang Texters Chot Reyes, tests the mettle of Yeng Guiao’s national team on April 22 in Victorias, while Tim Cone’s South All-Stars face the RP team on April 24 in Panabo City. Highlighting the All-Star games is the Skills Competition – obstacle course, three-point shootout and slam-dunk contest – on April 26 at the Araneta Coliseum, and the clash between Team Pilipinas and the combined starting lineups of the North and South squads – backed by PBA imports as with the North and South team. Reyes, who coached the RP team to a ninth place finish in the Olympic qualifier in Tokushima, Japan in 2007, will handle the third All-Star selection. The PBA sets aside for this year the traditional North vs. South All-Star format to provide the national team, which is preparing for three important international tournaments, including the World Championship qualifier in China in August, additional tune-up games. – GMANews.TV