Pogoy, Dionisio, David join All-Star game
ROGER Pogoy of TNT Tropang Giga catches the last bus headed for the PBA All-Star Game. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF PBA
Roger Pogoy, Aris Dionisio, and rookie Christian David are all Bacolod-bound after being named as replacements for the coming Philippine Basketball Association All-Star festivities on 23 and 24 March at the University of St. La Salle gymnasium.
Pogoy and Dionisio were added to Team Japeth following the injuries to Phoenix sophomore playmaker Tyler Tio and former Most Valuable Player Scottie Thompson.
Tio is out due to a grade 2 ankle sprain, while Thompson is suffering from a back injury.
It will be the fifth All-Star appearance for the 31-year-old Pogoy, while the 28-year-old Dionisio is seeing action in his first All-Star.
The TNT veteran guard and Magnolia gunner join Christian Standhardinger, Paul Lee, Calvin Oftana, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Don Trollano, Marcio Lassiter, Arvin Tolentino, Maverick Ahanmisi, Stanley Pringle, and Terrence Romeo at Team Japeth (Aguilar) to be coached by Tim Cone.
Meanwhile, David, the No. 2 overall pick in the last draft for Blackwater, will take the place of injured big man Keith Datu in Team Stalwarts in the Blitz Game among rookie, sophomore, and junior players.
Datu, the Rain or Shine rookie big man, went down with an MCL sprain.
With David in Team Stalwarts of coach Peter Martin are top overall pick Stephen Holt, Fran Yu, Adrian Nocum, Kim Aurin, John Amores, JM Calma, Joshua Munzon, Anton Asistio, Leonard Santillan, Keith Zaldivar and Kyt Jimenez.
Tio will also be replaced in the Long Distance Three-Point contest among guards by Phoenix teammate Ken Tuffin.
On the other hand, Datu's slots in the Obstacle Challenge and Long Distance Three-Point shootout among big men will be assumed by Rain or Shine frontcourt partner Santillan.
With Dionisio elevated in the All-Star main game, James Laput takes his spot in the Three-Point shootout for bigs.
Team Stalwarts will be going up against Team Greats of coach Patrick Partosa, whose roster include Javi Gomez De Liano, Tuffin, Jerrick Ahanmisi, Justin Arana, Ralph Cu, Andrei Caracut, RK Ilagan, Alec Stockton, Gian Mamuyac, Laput and Shaun Ildefonso.