TRILLO TO COACH PBA SELECT 5 IN ALL-STAR GAME
It won’t be a long wait for Alaska Aces head coach Luigi Trillo to get an All-Star coach badge.
In only his sophomore season as PBA bench chieftain, Trillo gets the honor of becoming part of the annual spectacle, calling the shots for the PBA selection against the national team in the 2013 PBA All-Star Game in Digos, Davao del Sur in May.
“It’s really a big honor,” said Trillo, tapped for the job by the league by virtue of their fourth-place finish in the last Philippine Cup.
Talk n Text’s Norman Black, Rain or Shine’s Yeng Guiao and San Mig Coffee’s Tim Cone were ahead in line but they begged off due to prior commitments.
Black is among those helping coach Chot Reyes at Gilas Pilipinas, Guiao is splitting time with Rain or Shine and his campaign for a congressional seat representing the first district of Pampanga while Cone has promised to attend the graduation of his daughter in the United States.
Trillo has no qualms being the fourth choice, saying it’s an honor and privilege to be an All-Star coach, especially in the 2013 game where his team is pitted against Gilas Pilipinas.
Among the players who may make Trillo’s team are San Mig Coffee’s James Yap and PJ Simon, Ginebra’s Mark Caguioa and Kerby Raymundo, Petron Blaze’s Arwind Santos, Meralco’s Macmac Cardona, Globalport’s Willie Miller, Barako Bull’s Danny Seigle, Alaska’s Cyrus Baguio and Jayvee Casio, Rain or Shine’s Beau Belga, Paul Lee and JR Quinahan, and Air21’s KG Canaleta and Mike Cortez.
An import may be tapped to reinforce the PBA roster.
The PBA is shelving the North vs South and the Veterans vs RSJs formats for this year’s All-Star Game to help the national team in its buildup for the coming FIBA Asia Championship.
The pro league has done the same in 1998 and in 2009 for the same purpose of helping the Nationals in their preparation for an international competition.
The PBA is again holding a Legends Game as preliminary to the All-Star Sunday main event.
Among those invited to play in the Legends Game this year are Benjie Paras, Jerry Codinera, Marlou Aquino, Bong Hawkins, Bong Ravena, Rodney Santos and Art de la Cruz.
Among the participants last year were MVP winner Ato Agustin, triple-double performer Johnny Abarrientos, Alvin Patrimonio, Kenneth Duremdes, Allan Caidic, Jojo Lastimosa, Olsen Racela and Leo Isaac. (SB)
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