2015 PBA All-Star Weekend

The 2015 PBA All-Star Weekend, also known as the 2015 Smart-PBA All-Star for sponsorship reasons, was the annual all-star weekend of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)'s 2014–15 season. The events were held at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. This was the second time that Puerto Princesa hosted the all-star weekend. Highlighting the weekend was the return of the North vs. South format of the All-Star game.

2015 PBA All-Star Weekend

North All-Stars South All-Stars 166 161
1 2 3 4 Total North All-Stars 41 40 44 41 166 South All-Stars 48 40 47 26 161
Date	March 6–8, 2015[1]
Venue	Puerto Princesa Coliseum, Puerto Princesa
MVP	Terrence Romeo (GlobalPort Batang Pier)
Network	TV5
← 2014 2016 →

All-Star Weekend (Friday events)

Rookies vs. Sophomores game

The Rookies vs. Sophomores game was the main attraction for the Friday events. The last edition of this event was held in 2011.^[2] The following rules were observed during the game:

1. The game consists of four 10-minute quarters. The time will be running during dead ball situations except for the last two minutes of each quarter.
2. The shot clock is reduced to 18 seconds.
3. The time limit for a team to advance the ball over the center line is reduced to six seconds.
4. No players will be fouled out. However, after the seventh personal foul of the player, the team will be put automatically to penalty.
5. Two free throws will be given to a player who was fouled if it is not act of shooting, three free throws if it is from a missed shot, four free throws if the missed shot came from the three-point area.
6. One timeout is given to each team for the first to third quarters and two timeouts are given to each team for the fourth quarter. Also, the teams will have a thirty-second timeout for each half.
7. Dunks are scored as three points.

Rookies Pos. Player Team F Ronald Pascual San Miguel Beermen F/G Matt Ganuelas-Rosser Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters G Stanley Pringle GlobalPort Batang Pier G Kevin Alas Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters F/C Jake Pascual Barako Bull Energy G Chris Banchero Alaska Aces F Anthony Semerad GlobalPort Batang Pier G Brian Heruela Blackwater Elite Head coach: Peter Martin (San Miguel Beermen)

Sophomores Pos. Player Team G Justin Melton Purefoods Star Hotshots C Raymond Almazan Rain or Shine Elasto Painters F Eric Camson NLEX Road Warriors G Jeric Fortuna San Miguel Beermen F Alex Nuyles Blackwater Elite G Terrence Romeo GlobalPort Batang Pier G RR Garcia Barako Bull Energy G LA Revilla Kia Carnival Head coach: Jeffrey Cariaso (Alaska Aces)

Game

Sports5

March 6 7:00pm

Rookies 150, Sophomores 131
Pts: Kevin Alas 35		Pts: Terrence Romeo 50
Matt Ganuelas-Rosser was named as the game's MVP.

Puerto Princesa Coliseum, Puerto Princesa

Obstacle Challenge

Further information: PBA All-Star Weekend Obstacle Challenge

Contestants^[3]

Pos.	Player	Team	Height	Weight	First round	Final round
G	Jeric Fortuna	San Miguel Beermen	5–8	150	32s	32.1s
G	Jonas Villanueva	NLEX Road Warriors	6–0	170	34s	37.7s
G	Chris Banchero	Alaska Aces	6–1	185	28s	45s
G	Brian Heruela	Blackwater Elite	5–10	195	37s
G	Jayson Castro	Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters	5–11	185	37s
G	LA Revilla	Kia Carnival	5–8	165	38s
F	Simon Atkins	Meralco Bolts	5–11	185	38s
G	Mark Barroca	Purefoods Star Hotshots	5–11	170	38s
G	Paul Lee	Rain or Shine Elasto Painters	6–0	200	39s
G	LA Tenorio	Barangay Ginebra San Miguel	5–7	155	42s
G	Stanley Pringle	GlobalPort Batang Pier	6–1	185	44s

• Gold represent the current champion.
• Jeric Fortuna won in this year's Obstacle Challenge

Three-Point Contest

Further information: PBA All-Star Weekend Three-Point Contest

Contestants^[3]

Pos.	Player	Team	Height	Weight	First round	Final round
G	Terrence Romeo	GlobalPort Batang Pier	5–11	190	18	18
G	James Yap	Purefoods Star Hotshots	6–3	205	18	14
G	JC Intal	Barako Bull Energy	6–4	195	18	11
G	Mark Macapagal	Meralco Bolts	6–2	185	16
G	Jimmy Alapag	Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters*	5–9	160	15
G	Niño Canaleta	NLEX Road Warriors	6–6	200	15
G	Chris Tiu	Rain or Shine Elasto Painters	5–11	170	14
G	LA Tenorio	Barangay Ginebra San Miguel	5–7	155	13
G	LA Revilla	Kia Carnival	5–6	165	10
G	Brian Heruela	Blackwater Elite	5–10	195	10
G	Chris Banchero	Alaska Aces	6–1	195	9
F	Arwind Santos	San Miguel Beermen	6–4	175	6

• Gold represent current champion.
• Terrence Romeo won in this year's Three Point Shootout

Slam Dunk Contest

Further information: PBA All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest

Contestants^[3]

Pos.	Player	Team	Height	Weight	First round	Final round
G	Rey Guevarra	Meralco Bolts	6–2	210	93 (45+48)	99 (49+50)
F	Japeth Aguilar	Barangay Ginebra San Miguel	6–9	225	95 (50+45)	97 (47+50)
F	Matt Ganuelas-Rosser	Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters	6–5	186	91 (46+45)
F/G	JC Intal	Barako Bull Energy	6–4	195	90 (45+45)
G	Justin Melton	Purefoods Star Hotshots	5–9	165	70 (25+45)
F	Chris EllisINJ	Barangay Ginebra San Miguel	6–5	185
F	Niño CanaletaOUT	NLEX Road Warriors	6–6	200

• Gold represent the current champion.
• Rey Guevarra won in this event, earning his second consecutive title.

^OUT Canaleta did not participate due to a worn-out knee.^[4]
^INJ Ellis did not participate due to a swollen ankle injury.^[5]

All-Star Game

Coaches

Leo Austria, coach of the San Miguel Beermen, and Alex Compton, coach of the Alaska Aces, were selected as the North and the South head coach, respectively. As with the past All-Star Games, the coaches of the teams who entered the season's Philippine Cup Finals will coach the all-star teams.^[6]

Roster

The rosters for the All-Star Game were chosen in two ways. The starters were chosen via a fan ballot (online and at the venue during PBA games). Players are assigned to represent the North or South All-Star teams based from their place of birth. Players born in Luzon are assigned to the North All-Stars team while players born in Visayas and Mindanao are assigned to represent the South All-Stars. If the player is born outside the Philippines, the player is assigned to his parents' birthplace. Two guards and three frontcourt players who received the highest vote were named the All-Star starters. The reserves are voted by the twelve PBA coaches after the results of the fan ballot are released.^[7]

June Mar Fajardo of the San Miguel Beermen received the most number of fan ballots with 38,107 votes, which earned him a starting position as a center/forward in the South All-Stars team. Asi Taulava of the NLEX Road Warriors earned a record 13th All-Star selection. Taulava, Greg Slaughter, James Yap and Mark Barroca completed the South All-Stars.^[8]

The North All-Stars' leading vote-getter was Purefoods Star Hotshots' Marc Pingris, who finished with 23,947. Japeth Aguilar, Mark Caguioa, Justin Melton and Calvin Abueva completed the starting position for the North All-Stars.^[8]

Jimmy Alapag, who announced his retirement on January 9, 2015 has been added as the 13th man of the South All-Stars by PBA commissioner Chito Salud. He is the current team manager of his former team, the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters. The retirement of his #3 jersey by Talk 'N Text is also scheduled to be held during the All-Star game.^[9]

North All-Stars Pos Player Team No. of selections Votes Starters[10] G Mark CaguioaINJ Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 7 15,076 G Justin Melton Purefoods Star Hotshots 1 12,312 F Marc Pingris Purefoods Star Hotshots 9 23,947 F/C Japeth Aguilar Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 3 18,334 F Calvin Abueva Alaska Aces 3 22,670 Reserves[11] F/C Beau Belga Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 3 — G Paul Lee Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 3 — F Gabe Norwood Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 7 — G Jayson CastroST1 Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters 3 — F/C Ranidel de Ocampo Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters 8 — F Arwind Santos San Miguel Beermen 8 — G Terrence Romeo GlobalPort Batang Pier 1 — G LA TenorioREP1 Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 6 — Head coach: Leo Austria (San Miguel Beermen)

South All-Stars Pos Player Team No. of selections Votes Starters[10] G James Yap Purefoods Star Hotshots 12 22,937 G Mark Barroca Purefoods Star Hotshots 3 15,197 F Greg Slaughter Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 2 31,310 F/C June Mar FajardoINJ San Miguel Beermen 3 38,107 F Asi Taulava NLEX Road Warriors 13 24,062 Reserves[11] G Jeffrei Chan Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 3 — G Cyrus Baguio Alaska Aces 7 — G Dondon HontiverosINJ Alaska Aces 12 — F/C Joe DevanceST2 Purefoods Star Hotshots 4 — G Peter June Simon Purefoods Star Hotshots 5 — G Stanley Pringle GlobalPort Batang Pier 1 — F/C Reynel Hugnatan Meralco Bolts 6 — G Jimmy Alapag Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters1 12 — Head coach: Alex Compton (Alaska Aces)

• INJ^ ^ ^ Caguioa, Hontiveros and Fajardo were unable to participate due to injury.^[12][13]
• ^1 Alapag played for Talk 'N Text in the Philippine Cup. He now serves as its team manager.^[9]
• ^ST1 Jayson Castro started in place of Mark Caguioa^[14]
• ^ST2 Joe Devance started in place of June Mar Fajardo^[14]
• REP1^ Tenorio was named as Caguioa's replacement^[14]

Game

Sports5

March 8 4:00pm

Report

North All-Stars 166, South All-Stars 161
Scoring by quarter: 41–48, 40–40, 44–47, 41–26
Pts: Calvin Abueva 37 Rebs: Calvin Abueva 16 Asts: Calvin Abueva 7		Pts: PJ Simon 24 Rebs: Asi Taulava 15 Asts: Jimmy Alapag 17

Puerto Princesa Coliseum, Puerto Princesa

• All-Star Game MVP: Terrence Romeo (North)

See also

• 2014–15 PBA season
• Philippine Basketball Association
• Philippine Basketball Association All-Star Weekend

References

1. "FANS TO SEE MORE OF PACQUIAO IN ALL-STAR WEEKEND, COMM'S CUP". PBA.ph. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
2. Manny Pacquiao in lineup for Rookies-Sophomores game in PBA All-Star weekend, GMA News Online, February 17, 2015
3. "KG Canaleta back to challenge young high-flyers Justin Melton, Chris Ellis in Slam Dunk contest". spin.ph. February 17, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
4. Five-time champion KG Canaleta pulling out of slam dunk contest, cites knee problem, Richard Dy, spin.ph, February 21, 2015
5. Air Force Ellis grounded with swelling in ankles, pulls out of All-Star dunk contest, Richard Dy. spin.ph, March 4, 2015
6. NORTH VS SOUTH BACK IN 2015 ALL-STAR GAME, PBA.ph, January 7, 2015
7. SOUTH GIANTS FAJARDO & SLAUGHTER FINISH 1-2 IN ALL-STAR FAN VOTES; PINGRIS TOPS NORTH, PBA.ph, February 12, 2015
8. Triple Towers' Fajardo, Slaughter, Taulava to start for South after emerging top vote-getters for PBA All-Star Game by: Karlo Sacamos, spin.ph, February 12, 2015
9. ONE FAREWELL GAME FOR THE MIGHTY MOUSE, PBA.ph, February 5, 2015
10. Fajardo tops PBA All-Star voting, to team up with Slaughter for South squad; Pingris, Abueva to lead North starters Archived 2015-02-12 at the Wayback Machine, interaksyon.com, February 12, 2015
11. Rain or Shine to have four players as PBA All-Star Game reserves; Pringle, Romeo, Santos, Simon also make the cut Archived 2015-02-17 at the Wayback Machine, interaksyon.com, February 16, 2015
12. Mark Caguioa, Dondon Hontiveros to sit out PBA All-Star Game due to injuries, Snow Badua, spin.ph, March 3, 2015
13. June Mar Fajardo injury dampens PBA All-Star team-up with longtime rival Greg Slaughter, Richard Dy, spin.ph, March 3, 2015
14. South’s Joe Devance, North’s Jayson Castro in as All-Star starters in place of injured teammates Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine, Rey Joble, interaksyon.com, March 5, 2015