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| Kevin Durant |
n a development that should make the already-shaken Philippine basketball landscape rock even more, the MVP Sports Foundation has announced that two-time scoring champion and former Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant is joining the stellar NBA cast that will play a two-game series with Smart Gilas Pilipinas and a PBA selection on July 23 and 24 at the Araneta Coliseum.
In his Twitter account (@coachot), MVPSF executive director Chot Reyes said the Oklahoma Thunder star is replacing DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers, who couldn't make the trip due to passport hitches, in the once-in-a-lifetime sports spectacle.
"Bad news! Kevin Durant is replacing DeAndre Jordan in the Smart Ultimate Weekend. Bad news for us and Gilas. Great for Pinoy Bball fans," Reyes tweeted.
Durant will join no less than five-time champion Kobe Bryant, reigning MVP and former Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls and another ex-ROY Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets.
The other members of the squad, which will be coached by Bryant himself, are Tyreke Evans of the Sacramento Kings, veteran guard Derek Fisher of the Los Angeles Lakers, James "The Bearded One" Harden of the Oklahoma Thunder, and this year's second overall rookie pick Derrick Williams of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Meanwhile, Smart Gilas Pilipinas skipper Chris Tiu admitted it would hard to beat a stellar cast of NBA stars even if it’s just an exhibition match. He also confessed it would be difficult playing against players he idolizes.
Tiu and the Nationals will play a dream NBA roster headed by Bryant, Rose, Durant and Paul in the second of a blockbuster two-game series set July 23 and 24 at the Big Dome.
"It's hard to beat a team composed of the best basketball players in the world because they're not only taller and bigger, they're also more athletic, skilled and experienced," said Tiu.
"It’s more difficult playing the players I look up to," added Tiu, a self-confessed fan of Bryant and Rose.
Tiu said the game is actually a treat to Filipino fans from no less than Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny Pangilinan, who celebrated his birthday last July 14.
“This game is really for everyone, the Filipino fans. What the MVP Foundation has done is just unbelievable as they just brought basketball to another level,'' said Tiu. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us players and the fans.'”
The two-day basketball extravaganza, dubbed "The Ultimate All-Star Weekend," will pit Bryant and his gang against a PBA selection team coached by Reyes at 7 p.m. on July 23 and a Rajko Toroman-mentored Smart Gilas squad at 1 p.m. a day later.
Smart Gilas is using this tune-up match as part of its preparation for the FIBA-Asia Championship slated Sept. 15-25 in Wuhan, China, which stakes a lone berth in the 2012 London Olympics.
Tiu and the Nationals are also set to compete in the William Jones Cup set Aug. 6-14 in Chinese Taipei.
James Yap and Marc Pingris of B-Meg, Mark Caguioa and JC Intal of Ginebra, Arwin Santos and Rabeh Al-Hussaini of Petron Blaze, Ryan Reyes, Jason Castro and Larry Fonacier of Talk N’ Text, Sonny Thoss and LA Tenorio of Alaska, Sol Mercado of Meralco, Gary David of Powerade, Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine and Danny Seigle of Air21 will comprise the PBA team.
Talk N’ Text’s Kelly Williams, Jimmy Alapag and Ranidel de Ocampo, Meralco’s Asi Taulava and Air21’s Dondon Hontiveros will suit up for the Nationals, who are on the thick of preparations for the FIBA-Asia Championship in Wuhan, China.
Smart Gilas’ other members are naturalized Marcus Douthit, Tiu, co-skipper Mark Barroca, JV Casio, Mac Baracael, Marcio Lassiter, Japeth Aguilar, Chris Lutz, Dylan Ababou and Jason Ballesteros.
Ticket prizes are pegged from as high as P5,500 for patron seats to as low as P350 for general admission.
The event is backed by MVPSF, Smart, PLDT, Meralco, Maynilad, TV5, Metro Pacific Tollways and Investment Corp. and Philex Mining.
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