2024 MPBL All-Star Game

The 2024 MPBL All-Star Game was an exhibition game played on September 7, 2024, during the 2024 season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). It was the fifth edition of the MPBL All-Star Game, which took place at the Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City, the home arena of the Zamboanga Master Sardines.[1][a]

2024 MPBL All-Star Game
North All-Stars South All-Stars
95 91
Head coach:
Dennis Pineda (Pampanga Giant Lanterns)
Head coach:
Eric Gonzales (Quezon Huskers)
1234 Total
North All-Stars 28212818 95
South All-Stars 26212321 91
DateSeptember 7, 2024
VenueMayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum, Zamboanga City
MVPWill McAloney
NetworkMPTV
← 2023
2025 →

The North Division won against the South Division for the second consecutive year with a score of 95–91. Will McAloney of the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards was declared the All-Star Game MVP.[2]

All-Star Game

edit

Coaches

edit

The two coaches of each division's highest-ranked team up to that point coached the all-star rosters of their respective divisions. The coaches were unveiled at the All-Star Game itself. The South Division all-stars were coached by Eric Gonzales of the Quezon Huskers. Although the San Juan Knights led the North Division at the time of the event, its all-stars were instead coached by Dennis Pineda of the second-place Pampanga Giant Lanterns.[3]

Lineups

edit

The starters were announced on August 17, 2024. In the North Division, Will McAloney earned his third all-star selection overall and his third as a starter. Reiging MVP and Finals MVP Justine Baltazar alongside Orlan Wamar Jr. earned their second selection as both all-star and starter. Seeing their all-star debuts were Greg Slaughter of the Manila Batang Sampaloc and Laurenz Victoria of the Pasay Voyagers.[4]

In the South Division, Cedric Ablaza of the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters was selected for a record fourth all-star selection. Ablaza also became a three-time all-star starter together with former MVP Jaycee Marcelino of the hosting Zamboanga Master Sardines, who made his third appearance. Ljay Gonzales and Ximone Sandagon of the Quezon Huskers made their all-star debuts alongside Christian Fajarito of the South Cotabato Warriors.[5]

The reserves were announced two days later on August 19. In the North Division, Robby Celiz of Nueva Ecija was selected as an all-star for the third time. Multiple players earned their second selection, including Jason Ballesteros of the Quezon City Toda Aksyon, Archie Concepcion of Pampanga, Michael Juico of the Pangasinan Heatwaves, Paul Sanga of the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo, and Roi Sumang of the Abra Weavers. Meanwhile, Rabeh Al-Hussaini of Manila, Warren Bonifacio of Pasay, Hesed Gabo of Pangasinan, and Rhinwill Yambing of Quezon City became first-time all-stars.[6]

In the South Division, two players, Levi Hernandez of Batangas City and Larry Rodriguez of South Cotabato, became two-time all stars. Among the players who were given their first all-star selection were Choi Ignacio of Zamboanga and Ryan Sual of the Sarangani Marlins. They were joined by multiple team pairs: Arthur dela Cruz and Mac Tallo of Davao Occidental, Marc Pingris and Kenny Rocacurva of the Biñan Tatak Gel, and Jielo Razon and JP Sarao of the Parañaque Patriots.[7]

The replacements for the South Division were announced on September 3. Renz Palma of the Negros Muscovados replaced Marcelino, who opted out of the event due to personal reasons. Fajarito was unable to play due to health reasons and was replaced by Louie Vigil of the Bacolod City of Smiles. Both Palma and Vigil made their all-star debuts.[8] Four days later, on the day of the All-Star Game itself, it was announced that Pingris and Razon would be promoted to the starting lineup in place of Fajarito and Marcelino, respectively.[9]

Also announced on September 3 were the homegrown picks, a new addition to the MPBL All-Star Game. Each division featured one homegrown pick as an additional player in their roster. Carl Bryan Lacap of the Valenzuela Classic and JJ Caspe of the Mindoro Tamaraws were chosen as the two homegrown selections, with both players also making their all-star debuts.[10]

^DNP1 Christian Fajarito will be unable to play due to health reasons.
^DNP2 Jaycee Marcelino will be unable to play due to personal reasons.
^REP1 Louie Vigil was selected as Christian Fajarito's replacement.
^REP2 Renz Palma was selected as Jaycee Marcelino's replacement.
^ST1 Marc Pingris was promoted to the starting lineup in place of Christian Fajarito.
^ST2 Jielo Razon was promoted to the starting lineup in place of Jaycee Marcelino.

Game

edit
MPTV
September 7, 2024
8:00 pm
North All-Stars 95–91 South All-Stars
Scoring by quarter: 28–26, 21–21, 28–23, 18–21

Pre-game events

edit

All three of the league's traditional pre-game events, including the Executives' Game, Three-Point Contest, and Slam Dunk Showdown, will make a return in this edition.

Executives' Game

edit

The game was won by the South Division Executives for the second consecutive year, beating the North Division executives, 108–91. MPBL founder Manny Pacquiao won his third consecutive Executives' Game MVP award.

Lineups

edit

Game

edit
MPTV
September 7, 2024
4:00 pm
North Executives 91–108 South Executives
Scoring by quarter: 22–30, 20–17, 27–18, 22–43

Slam Dunk Showdown

edit

The contestants for the Slam Dunk Showdown were revealed on August 21, 2024. The format was changed to have two dunks in the final round instead of one.

Contestants
Player Team First round Final round
Joe Gomez de Llaño Pampanga Giant Lanterns 100 (50+50) 94 (48+46)
CJ Gania Negros Muscovados 100 (50+50) 79 (47+32)
Warlo Batac Muntinlupa Cagers 93 (45+48) DNQ
Mark Meneses Pangasinan Heatwaves 88 (44+44)
Rodel Gravera Quezon Huskers 83 (39+44)
Poypoy Actub Biñan Tatak Gel 81 (31+50)
Rhinwill Yambing Quezon City Toda Aksyon 63 (33+30)
Ximone Sandagon Quezon Huskers DNP
Notes
  • Player highlighted in gold is the event's defending champion.

Three-Point Shootout

edit

The contestants for the Three-Point Shootout were revealed on August 20, 2024. The format was changed to have three rounds instead of two.

Contestants
Player Team First round
(Tiebreaker)
Second round
(Tiebreaker)
Final round
Orlan Wamar Jr. San Juan Knights 18 15 (12) 16
AC Soberano San Juan Knights 18 15 (11) 14
Ryan Sual Sarangani Marlins 15 16 12
Yves Sazon Bataan Risers 12 15 (5) DNQ
Jeramer Cabanag Caloocan Batang Kankaloo 14 13
Jonathan Gesalem Quezon City Toda Aksyon 10 (10) 11
Choi Ignacio Zamboanga Master Sardines 10 (6) DNQ
Wendel Comboy Abra Weavers 10 (4)
Kurt Reyson Pampanga Giant Lanterns 8
Domark Matillano Quezon Huskers 7
Dennis Santos Valenzuela Classic 7
Axel Iñigo Pasay Voyagers 6
Ronnie Alonte Biñan Tatak Gel DNP
Kraniel Villoria Rizal Golden Coolers
Notes
  • Player highlighted in gold is the event's defending champion.

Notes

edit
  1. ^ Despite playing home games there on previous occasions, the team didn't play any home games up to this point in the season.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Justine Baltazar babandera sa MPBL All-Stars North team" [Justine Baltazar to banner MPBL All-Stars North team]. www.abante.com.ph (in Tagalog). September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  2. ^ "North bests South in MPBL All-Stars; Pacquiao shines". Tempo. September 8, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  3. ^ "MPBL All-Stars tonight". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  4. ^ "MAKE WAY FOR YOUR SiKAT ALL STAR STARTERS – North All Stars". Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 18, 2024 – via Facebook.
  5. ^ "MAKE WAY FOR YOUR SiKAT ALL STAR STARTERS – South All Stars". Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 18, 2024 – via Facebook.
  6. ^ "HERE ARE YOUR RESERVES FOR THE 2024 MPBL ALL STAR GAME PRESENTED BY SiKAT – North All Stars". Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. August 19, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024 – via Facebook.
  7. ^ "HERE ARE YOUR RESERVES FOR THE 2024 MPBL ALL STAR GAME PRESENTED BY SiKAT – South All Stars". Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. August 19, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024 – via Facebook.
  8. ^ "PALMA, VIGIL JOIN SOUTH ALL-STARS". Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2024 – via Facebook.
  9. ^ "SOUTH ALL STAR STARTERS". Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024 – via Facebook.
  10. ^ "LACAP, CASPE MAKE ALL STAR TEAM AS HOMEGROWN PICKS". Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2024 – via Facebook.