College aces collide in All-Star tiff

By Jasmine W. Payo
Inquirer
Last updated 05:35am (Mla time) 10/12/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- A showdown involving the season’s best collegiate teams unfolds Saturday when UAAP and NCAA basketball standouts clash in the Bantay Bata All-Star Game at The Arena in San Juan City.

Rico Maierhofer, JV Casio, TY Tang and JV Casio of newly crowned UAAP champion De La Salle University Green Archers will power the UAAP All-Stars, while Ogie Menor, Pong Escobal and Nigerian Sam Ekwe of back-to-back NCAA champion San Beda College will lead the NCAA side.

The face-off between the country’s top collegiate leagues starts at 4 p.m., right after the 2 p.m. side event that includes a slamdunk contest, a three-point competition and a two-ball shootout.

Also suiting up for the UAAP All-Stars are Mark Borboran and Marcy Arellano of runner-up University of the East, Ateneo de Manila University big men Ford Arao and Nonoy Baclao, University of Santo Tomas guards Japs Cuan and Dylan Ababou, Far Eastern University’s Mac Baracael, National University’s Edwin Asoro, Adamson University’s Roel Hugnatan and University of the Philippines rookie Mike Gamboa.

Franz Pumaren will call the shots, but the multi-titled La Salle coach will miss the services of UST star Jervy Cruz, this season’s Most Valuable Player, and streak shooters Patrick Cabahug of Adamson and NU’s Jonathan Fernandez. The three are training with the all-amateur Philippine team in South Korea.

San Beda coach Frankie Lim will mentor the NCAA crew bannered by MVP Kelvin Dela Peña of Mapua Institute of Technology, Rafael Jazul, Bryan Faundo and Dino Daa of runner-up Letran College, San Beda’s Borgie Hermida and David Marcelo, Jose Rizal's James Sena and John Wilson and University of Perpetual Help's Michael Kong and San Sebastian College’s Jason Ballesteros.