Snubbed names for the 2011 PBA All-Star Game

By BRIAN YALUNG | http://www.mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philippines – The players representing the North and South PBA All-Star Selections have been named but it seems some popular players have been left out in the cold. Except for Powerade and Smart Gilas, all PBA teams will be represented in this year’s event.

While the players comprising both the North and South do have a bumper-crop of names to their credit, one cannot help but ponder why names like Gary David, Danny Ildefonso, Dorian Pena, Solomon Mercado and even Ronjay Buenafe weren’t able to make the cut.

This is not really to question this year’s PBA all-star selection but basing it on their performance from the past and current conference, you know that they deserve to be included in either team. San Miguel Beer coach Ato Agustin will call the shots for the North All-Stars while Talk ‘n Text coach Chot Reyes will be the man at the helm for the South All-Stars.

Gary David, obviously the main man over at the Powerade Tigers camp, is someone that deserves to be there. Mr. Energy has been a focal point of the Tiger’s team and too bad the voters didn’t see it that way. He could have been truly someone that can electrify the crowd with his no non-sense offense and energized charge.

Solomon Mercado of the Meralco Bolts is another potent PBA star that could have been voted in as well. Though groping for form ever since he was traded to the Bolts by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, Mercado is still in the adjustment stages as far as his new team is concerned.

Dorian Pena, quiet but consistent off the glass and defense has been overlooked as well. He continues to dominate on the defensive end and puts back the points whenever needed. He is one of the better-known defenders and powers that could help any team any day.

Ronjay Buenafe is a mold after Gary David. He is unpredictable as well and could dazzle the crowd on a good night. But like David, it seems that with so many players playing in the same position, the choice is obviously to go for the players who have been showing outstanding performances in the past and current PBA conference.

And then of course there is SMB veteran Danny Ildefonso who has been a familiar part of the PBA All-Star game for many years. Injuries and perhaps in the twilight of his career, Danny I has proven that he can still play with the young turks of the PBA. He is perhaps the only remaining remnant of the fabled San Miguel Beer squad which traded away the likes of Dondon Hontiveros, Danny Seigle, Dorian Pena and Paul Artadi to Air21 for top rookies Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Noy Baclao and Rey Guevarra.

The players selected are obviously the hot players of the PBA at the moment and it seems a bit disheartening to find the old reliables being passed up. Then again with the new PBA stars at the helm, there has to be casualties in the fray and unfortunately some of the veteran stars have to be the victims as far as this year’s PBA All Star Game is concerned.

The PBA All-Star game will be held in Boracay next month. Below are the names of the PBA players making up the North and South PBA All Star teams:

2011 PBA ALL STARS line-up

South All-Stars

Coach: Chot Reyes

Starters:

1. James Yap (B-Meg)

2. Jay Washington (Petron/SMB)

3. Kelly Williams (Talk ‘n Text)

4. Eric Menk (Barangay Ginebra)

5. Cyrus Baguio (Alaska)

Reserves:

1. PJ Simon (B-Meg)

2. Dondon Hontiveros (Air21)

3. Jimmy Alapag (Talk ‘n Text)

4. Joe Devance (Alaska)

5. Danny Siegle (Air21)

6. Sonny Thoss (Alaska)

7. Asi Taulava (Meralco)

North All-Stars

Coach: Renato “Ato” Agustin

Starters:

1. Mark Pingris (B-Meg)

2. Mark Caguioa (Barangay Ginebra)

3. Kerby Raymundo (B-Meg)

4. Gabe Norwood (Rain or Shine)

5. Willie Miller (Alaska)

Reserves:

1. L.A. Tenorio (Alaska)

2. Alex Cabagnot (Petron/SMB)

3. Arwind Santos (Petron/SMB)

4. Harvey Carey (Talk ‘n Text)

5. Ranidel De Ocampo (Talk ‘n Text)

6. Mac Cardona (Meralco)

7. Rabeh Al-Hussaini (Petron/SMB)

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