PBA set to reformat All-Star game pattern in Passi, Iloilo

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is set to introduce a new format in the upcoming All-Star Game to be held in Passi, Iloilo from March 9 to March 12, 2023.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial announced the recent development confirming that the next All-Star game will not be the North superstars going up against the South anymore.

Instead, the PBA board will be trying to implement the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) way of selecting their All-Stars through online and on-site voting that will start on January 25. 2023.

The old PBA format saw league stars born from the North will be taking on the South All-Stars as the highlight of the festivities.

In the new proposed style of the All-Star game selection, the top two players who will garner most votes will automatically be named as captains of the two teams.

The two captains will then follow the NBA’s style of drafting their own pool of players out of the top 24 hoopers who will also be voted by the fans.

Aside from the players, the two coaches who will be serving as chief mentors will also be decided through the online and on-site voting.

After the revision of the PBA All-Star game format, Marcial also said that the fans might be seeing a Rookie-Sophomore game also taken out of the NBA playbook.

However, specific details of the proposal are yet to be discussed but the PBA board already assured the overhaul of the All-Star game format.

Ilonggo PBA fans will also witness the PBA stars compete in the Slam Dunk contest, Three-point shootout, and the Skills Challenge.