TEAM AGELESS TO WORK & GO FOR ALL-STAR WIN
Celebrating his birthday on Monday, Asi Taulava couldn’t have asked for a better gift than another stint in the PBA All-Star Game.
“I guess it’s a birthday gift from the fans. I will be a brand new 42,” he said. “I want to enjoy the moment. I know that time is against me. This might be my last All-Star Game, it might not. So I’ll just enjoy the moment and have fun.”
Snubbed in last year’s festivities, Taulava said, “It was a wakeup call.”
“Sometimes, when your expectations are high and thinking you’re gonna make it and you didn’t, it’s a wakeup call. In the past, I take it for granted. But now, I’ll be there to go out and play. No more taking time off, no more going out there smiling and high-five-ing people. I’ll act like it’s a real PBA game,” Taulava said, adding that the pressure is definitely on their side considering their height advantage.
“It’s gonna be pretty embarrassing if we lose because we have June Mar (Fajardo) and Greg (Slaughter). Us three are so tall that if we are losing, that speaks highly of the North. We don’t want that. We want to win.”
It’s also a chance for the Fil-Tongan to prove that age definitely is just a number.
“Everybody thinks that because it’s the All-Star Game, everybody’s just out there to have fun. Not this time. I’m going there for the win,” Taulava said. “I know the feeling from last season when I didn’t make it and I told myself that whenever I’ll be given an opportunity again, I’ll play my heart out for the fans. The fans got me there this All-Star and I want to give them something to cheer for, that they made the right decision in voting for me.”
Another motivation for the 6-foot-9 NLEX slotman to give his all in the midseason showcase is that this will be his buddy Jimmy Alapag’s final game, as the Mighty Mouse’s Talk ‘N Text jersey will be retired in the same event.
“Playing alongside Jimmy, it’s something I’m looking forward to. Pride will be on the line, and with Jimmy playing, I’ll make sure everybody plays hard and do the right things to win,” he said.
But that comes with a twist.
“I’m playing point guard,” said Taulava. “I’ll play the 1, 2, or 3. June Mar and Greg can hang around in the 4 and the 5.”
“Team Ageless is there to run around. I’m gonna be the energy guy. I know I’m the shortest one out of us three, and I’m the veteran so there’s gonna be seniority. I get to do what I want to do. They get the rebound and I’ll shoot the ball. They’re my little puppies out there. Give Team Ageless the ball and watch him go to work.”
Everyone will indeed, Asi. (RL)
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