CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur — Coach Chot Reyes will have to make do with an undermanned lineup as three players will not be able to suit up for the Solid South All-Stars in the PBA Season 50 All-Star Game this Sunday here.
Scottie Thompson, Roger Pogoy, and Jericho Cruz have begged off from joining the midseason extravaganza’s culminating event, as confirmed by Commissioner Willie Marcial, leaving South with only nine players against Solid North
The Ginebra star and the San Miguel wing cited injuries as reasons, with both of them coming off busy campaigns with the Philippines and Guam in the recent FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers window.
“Hindi pa sila cleared ng mga doktor nila kaya nakiusap muna sila na baka hindi muna makalaro, at naiintindihan namin,” Marcial said, Thursday at the Van Gogh Hotel. “Pero si Jericho, nagsabi naman na pupunta, but hindi makakalaro.”
Pogoy, on the other hand, had already notified the Commissioner’s Office last week that he had to fly to Cebu following the passing of his grandmother.
No replacements were named for the three due to time constraints, though, as the developments happened barely a week before the Candon showpiece.
“Hindi na kami makakuha pa kasi late na; magpapagawa pa ng uniporme, eh hindi na aabot,” lamented the league chieftain. “Mahihirapan na.”
With this, Reyes will just have June Mar Fajardo, RJ Abarrientos, Calvin Oftana, Robert Bolick, Rey Nambatac, Santi Santillan, Caelan Tiongson, Alec Stockton, and JB Bahio for the All-Star Game set at 7:30 PM at the Candon City Arena.
These nine will try to flip the script against Team North, which has a five-game winning streak against the South after a 4-4 stalemate in their head-to-head matchup, according to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III.
Comprising Solid North are Japeth Aguilar, Calvin Abueva, CJ Perez, Stephen Holt, Juan Gomez de Liano, Justin Arana, Justine Baltazar, Zavier Lucero, Adrian Nocum, Chris Newsome, CJ Cansino, and Don Trollano.
