PBA: Asi Taulava wants All-Star win for Jimmy Alapag's final game

 

After PBA fans granted his wish to play alongside pal Jimmy Alapag one last time, veteran center Asi Taulava vowed to treat the All-Star game seriously as their final conquest together as teammates.

 

"It's Jimmy's last game, and we wanna take the All-Star trophy to the South," he said on Tuesday after NLEX dealt a 106-79 massacre to Blackwater.

 

The Road Warriors' big man will be starting for the South team after getting 24,062 votes behind twin towers June Mar Fajardo and Greg Slaughter, while the retired Talk 'n Text point guard was named the 13th man by the league to give him the chance to say goodbye in uniform.

 

The two formed Talk 'n Text's deadly inside-outside duo back in 2003 to take home the All-Filipino plum, and also shared Most Valuable Player honors in the 2004 All-Star game.

 

With another shot to achieve glory with Alapag, Taulava said he does not want to have this precious last chance go to waste.

 

"I don't wanna disappoint him. I wanna leave him with good memories," he said. "So when we sit back in our rocking chair or wheel chair, it's something we can remember and have a great laugh together."

 

Overwhelmed by support

 

Taulava, who is turning 42 next month, said he is overwhelmed by support he got from the fans with his age. He is also looking forward to play with "the future of Philippine basketball," forming a formidable frontline with Fajardo and Slaughter.

 

"I'm just gonna enjoy, especially having that opportunity to play with two other big guys," he said. "So that's a lot of height and we wanna capitalize on that."

 

The ageless center is happy about the South's chances to win against the North, especially with shooters Alapag, James Yap, Dondon Hontiveros, and Cyrus Baguio in their back court.

 

"We have all these three-point snipers. I think that speaks very highly of how competitive the South team would be," he said.

 

They will be playing against the North's starters Marc Pingris, Calvin Abueva, Japeth Aguilar, Mark Caguioa and Justin Melton, but Taulava said he is ready to do everything to give Alapag a fitting farewell game.

 

"It won't be just another All-Stars, it's all because of Jimmy. I'll be pushing myself to the limit." —JST, GMA News