Smart's Ultimate All Star Weekend

Now playing: Monkey Wrench by Foo Fighters

Yesterday, I arrived at Araneta Center,Cubao around 15 minutes before 12 noon and met my friend near The Big Dome's Yellow Gate entrance. We're going to watch Smart's Ultimate All-Star weekend. NBA's selected Superstars will be playing in an exhibition game against our hometown ball-cagers; the PBA All-Star Team and Smart Gilas Team. By the time we got inside, the place was already jam-packed. I decided not to bring a camera 'cause I'm sure I'm not gonna get any good shots at all (considering that I only have a consumer cam and our location). Contrary to popular belief, when sitting in the Gen Ad section, you really won't see the players in an ant-like size like what others say. Trust me.

These are the line-ups for the Ultimate All Star Weekend:

NBA All-Stars:

PG Derek Fisher (Los Angeles Lakers)

PG Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets)

PG Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls)

PG/SG Tyreke Evans (Sacramento Kings)

SG/SF James Harden (Oklahoma City Thunder)

SF Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)

SF/PF Derrick Williams (under Minnesota Timberwolves' draft rights)

SF/PF Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder)

C Jevale McGee (Washington Wizards)

PBA All-Stars:

SG James Yap (B-Meg Llamados)

SF/PF Marc Pingris (B-Meg Llamados)

SG Marc Caguioa (Brgy. Ginebra Gin Kings)

SF JC Intal (Brgy. Ginebra Gin Kings)

SF/PF Arwind Santos (Petron Blaze Boosters)

C Rabeh Al-Hussaini (Petron Blaze Boosters)

PG Alex Cabagnot (Petron Blaze Boosters)

PG/SG Ryan Reyes (Talk N' Text Tropang Texters)

PG Jason Castro (Talk N' Text Tropang Texters)

SG Larry Fonacier (Talk N' Text Tropang Texters)

C Sonny Thoss (Alaska Aces)

PG LA Tenorio (Alaska Aces)

PG Sol Mercado (Meralco Bolts)

SG/SF Gary David (Powerade Tigers)

PG/SG/SF Gabe Norwood (Rain or Shine Elasto-Painters)

SF Danny Siegel (Air 21)

Smart Gilas:

PG Andy Barroca
PF Aldrech Ramos
PG J.V. Casio
SG Dylan Ababou
PF Japeth Aguilar
C Greg Slaughter (DNP)
SF Mac Baracael
C Marcus Douthit
C Jason Ballesteros
SF Chris Lutz
SF Marcio Lassiter
PF Kelly Williams
PG 16 Jimmy Alapag
SG Chris Tiu
C Asi Taulava
SG Dondon Hontiveros

The first guy to come out of the dugout from NBA's roster was Derek Fisher. As soon as he stepped in the hardwood, The Big Dome just went nuts. Then, the other superstars followed. Tip-off started (if I'm not mistaken) past 2 pm and from that point, it was all pure fun and amazement.

NBA didn't fail to showcase some of their stuff while on-court. I must admit, I don't like Kobe Bryant as a player at all but I must say that he's spectacular and definitely amazing (there, I said it!). His shake and bake post moves ending in a Jordanesque fade away jump shot is off the charts. I mean, it's just art and sheer athleticism combined. The Black Mumba also rewinded back to time as he displayed flashes of his dunks.

Young big guns like Jevale McGee and Derrick Williams showed Filipino fans how to rock the rim. Now, I'm telling you McGee is having a great time tearing down The Big Dome's rim flushing in a number of dunks from Alley-Oops, follow-ups all the way to those one handed jams. Derrick Williams also didn't fail as he joined the wrecking crew. One of the highlights of the game was his baseline cut for a cradled reverse lay-up.

Chris Paul, Tyreke Evans and Derek Fisher schooled our local Point Guards (not to sound condescending, but they really did) on how you break those ankles and dish out the dimes. In fact, I remember this one time that Tyreke Evans literally had Arwind Santos on his ass after a crossover move during their game against the PBA All-Stars. Chris Paul gnawed Smart Gilas with his defense and even had a slight tie-up with Smart Gilas' Barocca.

Now, whenever jersey number 1 holds the ball, the crowd unites shouting "MVP". Derrick Rose didnt' really spent that much time on the court but a few isolation plays was given to him to dance with his defender and was able to contribute for a few buckets. He missed 2 free throws after being thrown off his focus when the fans started shouting MVP again.

The tandem of Kevin Durant and James Harden for me, made the difference. NBA's Western Conference Finalists displayed a wide barrage of offensive skills from slashing down the lane ending to a devastating tomahawk or sleek layup, three point and 2-point catapults. Indeed, Smart Gilas feared the beard and the Durantula of OKC.

Our very own Smart Gilas Team also showed competitive guts that caught the other team off guard. Before I bought the tickets, my buddy suggested that we watch the Smart Gilas game today against the NBA All-Stars instead of yesterday's game against PBA. Now I know why.

They may seem young overall but Rajko Toroman's team was no pushover. They kept the game close and even brought down the lead of the NBA All-Stars to as low as 7 points. By the 3:48 mark of the game, NBA's side was forced to call a time out with their lead down to 10 and that's when they really got serious. Although we can say that they really never exerted that much of an effort compared to how they compete in the regular season, you can say that Smart Gilas cracked some nerve off the opposing team and got them to play serious ball on the last 3 minutes of the game. JV Casio and Don-Don Hontiveros led the way for the Smart Gilas team with their outside sniping. A few contributions from Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter was also essential for the offensive game of the home team. It's great that Gilas showed competitiveness even if this is simply an exhibition game. They displayed a few offensive and defensive set-ups to test its effectiveness against opponents with this caliber.

Overall, Smart Gilas really did a good job against the NBA All-Stars compared to the PBA All-Stars. If you've seen the July 23rd game, it just seemed like our professional basketball players from the PBA were left in awe and disbelief that they're playing against their idols. All through out the game, the opposing team literally threw lob passes for alley-oops and just pretty much made the hardwood a personal launch pad. No defensive and offensive intensity and set-ups most of the game. For me, it was disappointing considering that these are our professional athletes.

Gilas can look on some things to probably help them out as far as their effectiveness in an international level is concerned. First, Marcus Douthit lack intensity and aggressiveness in the first half. Instead of going for a dunk or even a simple lay-up after being fed the ball off a pick and roll play, he opts to just go for a pull up J or a looper. That is if he actually has the chance to catch the ball on the slide off the pick and roll. Next, I noticed that after the ball goes on top of the double high-post with Casio or Tiu, it ends up always on a three point shot on top of the key. Yeah, at times it goes in but running the same play for 48 minutes against the likes of Kobe Bryant or Chris Paul which are top-notch on-ball defenders, you need to mix it up a little. No pop or even a roll from the high-post picks and the remaining 2 guys gets stock in the corner 3 point line and forgot motion offense. Just my 2 cents though.

Manny Pacquiao also graced the game, coming in at the start of the second half. The Smart All-Stars even called a timeout to ask the champ to go to their huddle to meet the stars. Chris Paul toyed with Manny by jokingly asking the people's champ to have a go at it. At the end of the game, the NBA All-Stars asked Manny to take pictures with them and sign almost everything that they're wearing. Imagine that... talking about "big time".

Now, at first, it really never was a biggie if I was seated in the Gen Ad section but when the NBA players gave away their jerseys and shoes to the crowd, that's when I felt bad. Damn. Hehe.

Overall, it was a rare experience that I can tell my grandkids in the future. Being part of this is really overwhelming. The mood inside The Big Dome for four hours really was phenomenal.