Basketball
Fireworks expected as Allan Caidic, Jeff Chan team up in All-Stars
LAOAG CITY — Two left-handed PBA gunners — one from the past and one from the present — are expected to provide fireworks on Friday in the PBA All-Star Weekend at the Centennial Arena.
Rain or Shine swingman Jeff Chan will be teaming up with playing coach Allan Caidic in the PBA Stalwarts squad that would go up against the PBA Greats selection.
“I’m honored to play for him,” said Chan of Caidic. “Magi-enjoy ako nito. Hope we will be able to give the fans a total treat.”
Observers are already that Caidic and Chan will torch the hoops together.
“I expect Coach Allan’s teammates to set him up and sa palagay ko, there’s going to be a shootout in the arena,” said Olsen Racela, a member of the Greats.
Coaches Bo Perasol and Ryan Gregorio, who will call the shots for the All-Star game on Sunday night, agreed with Racela’s projection.
“Tingin ko konti na ‘yung 12 three-point shots combined for Allan and Jeff,” said Perasol, who will coach the Rookies, Sophomores and Juniors All-Stars.
“Coach Allan may reach his favorite number eight in terms of number of three-poitn shots made, while I expect Jeff Chan to make at least four,” said Gregorio, the coach of the Veterans All-Star squad.
Basketball analysts Dominic Uy and Richard del Rosario also expect the combined three-point shots of Caidic and Chan to reach the double-digit mark.
“Mababa na siguro ‘yung sampu sa dalawa,” said Uy.
“Siguradong shootout ‘yan, si Allan pa lang makakawalo na ‘yan while Jeff will make seven the most, so it could reach as high as 15 combined for them,” said Del Rosario.
Caidic, the record holder for most points scored in a single game (79 points) and most three-point shots made (17), said that more than torching the net, he looks forward to taking the court once more with old friends and rivals.
“I’m happy to play against sa mga nakakalaro ko before and I’m also looking forward sa mga hindi ko pa nakakalaro,” said Caidic, who will be will lead the Stalwarts squad which also includes Kenneth Duremdes, Johnny Abarrientos, Leo Isaac, and current players Asi Taulava (Meralco), Sean Anthony (Powerade), Peter June Simon (B-MEG), Mac Cardona (Meralco), and Cyrus Baguio (Alaska).
They will go up against the Greats team led by playing coach Ato Agustin. The Greats will be bannered by four-time Most Valuable Player Alvin Patrimonio, Jojo Lastimosa, Olsen Racela Racela, Danny Ildefonso (Petron), Danny Seigle (Barako Bull), Willie Miller (Barako Bull), Sol Mercado (Meralco), Mike Cortez (Barangay Ginebra), Joseph Yeo (Petron) and KG Canaleta (Ginebra).
