FIL-AM Gabe Norwood of Hapee Toothpaste, one of the top
candidates for the Most Valuable Player award, looms as the biggest threat to
the title-retention bid of slam dunk champion Rey Guevarra of Bacchus Energy
Drink when the PBL Lipovitan Amin Sports Cup holds its 2008 Showcase today at
The Arena in San Juan.
With his lean frame, height and speed, Norwood can soar,
glide and slam the ball with authority. He, in fact, owns several highlight
moves in the league.
The 6-foot-5 Norwood, however, refused to say what he would
do in the event but assured Hapee team manager Bernard Yang he will come up with
a big show.
"He did not tell me exactly what he will do during the
contest, but he surely will entertain PBL fans," said Yang. "He’s the kind of
player who loves to see everybody smiling and that’s what he wants to do
tomorrow."
Guevarra surprised everybody last year when, as a rookie, he
pulled the rug from under the big guns to win the biggest plum in the
three-event spectacle.
"It’s going to be a big challenge for both Gabe and Rey. I’m
sure Gabe will do everything to win the event," said Commissioner Chino
Trinidad.
Harbour Centre’s Jason Castro, Norwood’s chief rival in the
MVP derby, guns for his third straight title in the slalom contest against an
equally stellar cast that includes teammate Boyet Bautista.
Also going for a repeat in the annual festivity that starts
at 1 p.m. is Patrick Cabahug of Toyota Otis. The hotshot from Cebu will defend
his title in the Three-Point Shootout against the likes of Noosa Shoes’ Noy
Javier, Hapee’s Reed Juntilla, and Harbour’s deadly duo of Jeff Chan and
Jonathan Fernandez.
As an appetizer, a team of celebrities, among them Bayani
Agbayani, Jay Manalo, Ariel Rivera, Jhong Hilario and comedian Djords Javier,
battles GNC in the Burlington Celebrity and Corporate Cup at 12:20.
Clashing in the other game of the event sponsored by
Burlington, Coca Cola, Rider, Aquabest, Raymundo Trophies, ACCEL and V-Go Energy
Drink, are Asialink and Creative Stuff at 10 a.m.
Aside from the Celebrities and GNC, also taking part in the
tournament sponsored by Burlington, Coca Cola, Rider, Aquabest, Raymundo
Trophies, ACCEL and V-Go Energy Drink, are PGA Cars, Gerry’s Grill, Asialink,
AFFI, Popoy’s Grill, Burlington, Exposure, Pharex, Accel, Hapee Toothpaste,
Toyota Otis, Creative Stuff, Solar and members of the PBL Press Corps.
Out to spoil the Norwood-Guevarra showdown are Elmer Espiritu and Ian
Saladaga of Pharex, Gilbert Malabanan and Dylan Ababou of Harbour, Lawrence
Bonus of Burger King, Andrian Celada of Noosa Shoes and Mike Dizon of Baccus.
