“Ultimate All-Star Weekend” Confirmed

The two day series will feature eight NBA players taking on the developmental Philippine national basketball team—Smart Gilas Pilipinas, and a team of selected PBA players. From the Philippine Star: “ Former NBA Rookie of the Year Chris Paul is joining five-time champion Kobe Bryant in the starting five of the NBA selection playing Smart Gilas Pilipinas and a PBA selection in a dream two-game series set July 23 and 24 at the Araneta Coliseum. MVP Sports Foundation officials Al Panlilio and Chot Reyes announced in a press conference last night that the blockbuster event is a go. […] The Los Angeles Lakers star, who played eight minutes with the UAAP All-Stars against Smart Gilas in a Nike event at the Big Dome Wednesday, will be back serving as player-coach of an eight-man NBA selection including Paul, Tyreke Evans of the Sacramento Kings, James Harden of the Oklahoma Thunder, DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers and Derrick Williams of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Reyes said they’re still finalizing a deal with two more players that would complete the NBA team. ‘It could be one more MVP and one more Rookie of the Year,’ said Reyes, hinting they might also get the nod of reigning MVP Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls and former ROY awardee and two-time scoring champion Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma Thunder.”