PBA STARS TANGLE WITH SHANGHAI SHARKS
In a virtual extension of their PBA All-Star Week experience, Arwind Santos and seven other All-Star participants play ball again, teaming up in another PBA select team going up against the visiting Shanghai Sharks in a goodwill game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.
Santos, co-MVP winner of Jeff Chan, in the PBA All-Star Game, leads the PBA cast that includes Petron Blaze teammates Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter, Rain or Shine stalwarts Paul Lee, Chris Tiu and Beau Belga, GlobalPort’s Willie Miller, Air21’s KG Canaleta and Mike Cortez, Meralco Bolts’ JR Reyes and Cliff Hodge, and Barako Bull’s Doug Kramer.
All of them were participants in the All-Star Week in Digos, Davao del Sur except Reyes and Kramer.
Santos, Cabagnot, Canaleta and Belga played stellar roles as the PBA select team fought Gilas Pilipinas to a 124-124 standoff in the All-Star Game.
They are again expected to fight for pride as they tangle with the Chinese side at 7 p.m.
For the Chinese, it’s the closing part of their two-game goodwill series in their visit here as part of the exchange program between sports bodies of China and the Philippines.
On Monday over at MOA Arena in Pasay, Gilas Pilipinas spanked the Shanghai Sharks, 80-72.
The Nationals engineered a second-quarter breakaway and foiled a late fightback by the Shanghai Sharks.
Members of Gilas’ cadet training pool made a good account of themselves and blended well with pro players who are part of the national pool along with naturalized player Marcus Douthit.
PBA players that saw action for Gilas Monday were Gary David, Japeth Aguilar, Junemar Fajardo, Gabe Norwood and Jeff Chan.
Excuse for this goodwill series are players of PBA teams locked in a battle in the Commissioner’s Cup Final Four.
The Shanghai ballclub owner Yao Ming, the former NBA star, watched the game intently on the sideline. (SB)
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
