THE PBA is going the NBA way in its next All-Star Game.
The league is veering away from its traditional North versus South format when the annual festivities return on March 9-12 in Passi City, Iloilo, with fans determining the players competing in the extravaganza through voting.
Voting will be held from Jan. 25 to Feb. 15 through online and game venues.
Commissioner Willie Marcial said the set-up is similar to the one being used by the NBA during its annual All-Star game.
“Mamimili ang fans ng 24 players. Sa top 24, iyong dalawa, gagawin nating captain ball.
Tapos mamimili sila sa 22 kung sino ang pipiliin nila,” Marcial said last Sunday night.
“Iyong dalawang captain ball mamimili sila ng players doon sa 22 para makabuo ng team,” he added.
A coin flip will be used to determine which of the two skippers will choose his teammates first.
The two coaches who will call the shots for the All-Star teams will also be determined through fan voting, according to Marcial.
“Iyong top two (to be voted), iyon ang magiging coach nila,” he said.
Marcial said the same format will also be applied in the Rookies, Sophomores, and Juniors duel, provided there will be at least two rookies per team. Two to three celebrities per team are also being eyed to spice up the All-Star weekend in the rice and sugar-rich component city in Panay Island.
Skills challenge competitions such as the Slam Dunk Contest, Three-point Shootout, and Obstacle Challenge will also be held during the All-Star Weekend.
Fans can vote through the PBA website and in voting places to be set up in game venues.
The PBA All-Star Game was last held in Calasiao, Pangasinan, with the North beating South 185-170 in 2019.
