By JAY R. GOTERA
MANILA — The Gilas Pilipinas squad was held to a draw, 114-114, by the PBA Mindanao All-Stars in an exhibition game held in Cagayan de Oro City Wednesday night in the first leg of this year’s PBA All-Star week.
Mindanao’s Troy Rosario and Gilas’ Matthew Wright starred for both squads. Rosario, a Gilas member who suited up for the Mindanao squad, scored 28 points while Wright of Gilas finished with 22 points to share Most Valuable Player honors.
With the Mindanao All Stars down, 111-114, Mark Barroca nailed a three-pointer from the top of the key with less than a minute left to knot the score. Barroca’s shot capped a huge run by the Mindanao All-Stars who trailed by as many as 12 points in the third quarter.
The Mindanao squad coached by Star's Chito Victolero even had a chance of winning the game, but Ginebra guard Scottie Thompson was foiled in his attempt. There was no overtime period since it was just an exhibition game.
In the Shootings Stars event preceding the game, hometown player Glenn Khobuntin led his team to victory beating the team of Cyrus Baguio and the quartet led by Jio Jalalon and Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno Jr.
Gilas will next face the Luzon All-Stars in Lucena City Friday before taking on Visayas All-Stars in Cebu City Sunday.
Meanwhile, Gilas coach Chot Reyes revealed the nine players who are shoo-ins for the 12-man roster of the Gilas Pilipinas team competing in the 2017 Seaba Championship from May 12 to 18 at the Araneta Coliseum.
“It’s easy to decide on the first nine,” said Reyes on Wednesday. He said they are naturalized player Andray Blatche, June Mar Fajardo, Calvin Abueva, Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo, Japeth Aguilar, Troy Rosario, Raymond Almazan and Allein Maliksi.
Reyes is using the first two All-Star games, in Cagayan de Oro Wednesday and then the Lucena game Friday, to assess who will make the Gilas squad.
The final 12-man team will then debut on the third All-Star battle in Cebu Sunday.
Reyes will announce his choices for the final 12 Friday.
For the last three slots, he will pick from the remaining Gilas hopefuls like Matthew Wright, Jio Jalalon, Kevin Ferrer, RR Pogoy, Ed Daquioag, Bradwyn Guinto, Fonso Gotladera, Norbert Torres, Arnold Van Opstal, LA Revilla, Jonathan Grey, Mike Tolomia, Von Pessumal, Carl Bryan Cruz and Almond Vosotros.
Out of consideration due to injuries are Mac Belo, Art Dela Cruz and Russell Escoto.
SMB-TNT player swap
San Miguel Beer sent RR Garcia to TNT for Matt Ganuelas-Rosser in rare trade between rival clubs.
Ganuelas-Rosser didn't play in TNT's game against Ginebra Sunday night.
The last time the two franchises reached a deal was in 2008 when the Texters sent Jay Washington to the Beermen in exchange for a first-round pick in a draft-day trade. TNT used the pick to draft star guard Jayson Castro.
The need to have a backup for Castro prompted TNT to part ways with Ganuelas-Rosser, who spent his first three seasons in the PBA with TNT, officials said.
Garcia, meanwhile, will be playing for his third team in the last three conferences after his stints with Star and SMB.
