The 2024 MPBL All-Star Game was an exhibition game played on September 7, 2024, during the 2024 season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). It was the fifth edition of the MPBL All-Star Game, which took place at the Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City, the home arena of the Zamboanga Master Sardines.

The North Division won against the South Division for the second consecutive year with a score of 95–91. Will McAloney of the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards was declared the All-Star Game MVP.

All-Star Game

Coaches The two coaches of each division's highest-ranked team up to that point coached the all-star rosters of their respective divisions. The coaches were unveiled at the All-Star Game itself. The South Division all-stars were coached by Eric Gonzales of the Quezon Huskers. Although the San Juan Knights led the North Division at the time of the event, its all-stars were instead coached by Dennis Pineda of the second-place Pampanga Giant Lanterns.

Lineups The starters were announced on August 17, 2024. In the North Division, Will McAloney earned his third all-star selection overall and his third as a starter. Reiging MVP and Finals MVP Justine Baltazar alongside Orlan Wamar Jr. earned their second selection as both all-star and starter. Seeing their all-star debuts were Greg Slaughter of the Manila Batang Sampaloc and Laurenz Victoria of the Pasay Voyagers.

In the South Division, Cedric Ablaza of the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters was selected for a record fourth all-star selection. Ablaza also became a three-time all-star starter together with former MVP Jaycee Marcelino of the hosting Zamboanga Master Sardines, who made his third appearance. Ljay Gonzales and Ximone Sandagon of the Quezon Huskers made their all-star debuts alongside Christian Fajarito of the South Cotabato Warriors.

The reserves were announced two days later on August 19. In the North Division, Robby Celiz of Nueva Ecija was selected as an all-star for the third time. Multiple players earned their second selection, including Jason Ballesteros of the Quezon City Toda Aksyon, Archie Concepcion of Pampanga, Michael Juico of the Pangasinan Heatwaves, Paul Sanga of the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo, and Roi Sumang of the Abra Weavers. Meanwhile, Rabeh Al-Hussaini of Manila, Warren Bonifacio of Pasay, Hesed Gabo of Pangasinan, and Rhinwill Yambing of Quezon City became first-time all-stars.

In the South Division, two players, Levi Hernandez of Batangas City and Larry Rodriguez of South Cotabato, became two-time all stars. Among the players who were given their first all-star selection were Choi Ignacio of Zamboanga and Ryan Sual of the Sarangani Marlins. They were joined by multiple team pairs: Arthur dela Cruz and Mac Tallo of Davao Occidental, Marc Pingris and Kenny Rocacurva of the Biñan Tatak Gel, and Jielo Razon and JP Sarao of the Parañaque Patriots.

The replacements for the South Division were announced on September 3. Renz Palma of the Negros Muscovados replaced Marcelino, who opted out of the event due to personal reasons. Fajarito was unable to play for health reasons and was replaced by Louie Vigil of the Bacolod City of Smiles. Both Palma and Vigil made their all-star debuts. Four days later, on the day of the All-Star Game itself, it was announced that Pingris and Razon would be promoted to the starting lineup in place of Fajarito and Marcelino, respectively.

Also announced on September 3 were the homegrown picks, a new addition to the MPBL All-Star Game. Each division featured one homegrown pick as an additional player in their roster. Carl Bryan Lacap of the Valenzuela Classic and JJ Caspe of the Mindoro Tamaraws were chosen as the two homegrown selections, with both players also making their all-star debuts.

+ North All-Stars Pos. Player Team No. of selections Starters Justine Baltazar Pampanga Giant Lanterns 2 Will McAloney Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards 3 Greg Slaughter Manila Batang Sampaloc 1 Laurenz Victoria Pasay Voyagers 1 Orlan Wamar Jr. San Juan Knights 2 Reserves Rabeh Al-Hussaini Manila Batang Sampaloc 1 Jason Ballesteros Quezon City Toda Aksyon 2 Warren Bonifacio Pasay Voyagers 1 Robby Celiz Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards 3 Archie Concepcion Pampanga Giant Lanterns 2 Hesed Gabo Pangasinan Heatwaves 1 Michael Juico Pangasinan Heatwaves 2 Paul Sanga Caloocan Batang Kankaloo 2 Roi Sumang Abra Weavers 2 Rhinwill Yambing Quezon City Toda Aksyon 1 Homegrown pick Carl Byran Lacap Valenzuela Classic 1 Head coach: Dennis Pineda (Pampanga Giant Lanterns)

+ South All-Stars Pos. Player Team No. of selections Starters Cedric Ablaza Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters 4 Christian Fajarito South Cotabato Warriors 1 Ljay Gonzales Quezon Huskers 1 Jaycee Marcelino Zamboanga Master Sardines 3 Ximone Sandagon Quezon Huskers 1 Reserves Arthur dela Cruz Davao Occidental Tigers 1 Levi Hernandez Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters 2 Choi Ignacio Zamboanga Master Sardines 1 Renz Palma Negros Muscovados 1 Marc Pingris Biñan Tatak Gel 1 Jielo Razon Parañaque Patriots 1 Kenny Rocacurva Biñan Tatak Gel 1 Larry Rodriguez South Cotabato Warriors 2 JP Sarao Parañaque Patriots 1 Ryan Sual Sarangani Marlins 1 Mac Tallo Davao Occidental Tigers 1 Louie Vigil Bacolod City of Smiles 1 Homegrown pick JJ Caspe Mindoro Tamaraws 1Head coach: Eric Gonzales (Quezon Huskers)

Christian Fajarito will be unable to play for health reasons. Jaycee Marcelino will be unable to play due to personal reasons. Louie Vigil was selected as Christian Fajarito's replacement. Renz Palma was selected as Jaycee Marcelino's replacement. Marc Pingris was promoted to the starting lineup in place of Christian Fajarito. Jielo Razon was promoted to the starting lineup in place of Jaycee Marcelino.

Game

Pre-game events All three of the league's traditional pre-game events, including the Executives' Game, Three-Point Contest, and Slam Dunk Showdown, will make a return in this edition.

Executives' Game The game was won by the South Division Executives for the second consecutive year, beating the North Division executives, 108–91. MPBL founder Manny Pacquiao won his third consecutive Executives' Game MVP award.

Lineups

+ North Executives Representative Team Xandrie Cruz Rizal Golden Coolers Max Dayadante Manila Batang Sampaloc Aurelio Gonzales III Pampanga Giant Lanterns Francis Luakian Caloocan Batang Kankaloo Aljen Kaw Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards Voltaire Ora Valenzuela Classic JC Tan Quezon City Toda Aksyon Jun Usman San Juan KnightsHead coach: Frederick Dimatulac (Pampanga Giant Lanterns)

+ South Executives Representative Team Jean Alabanza Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters Aldriane Anglim Bicolandia Oragons JR Cawaling Mindoro Tamaraws Jojo Cunanan Biñan Tatak Gel Mermann Flores South Cotabato Warriors Kaizer Galvez Muntinlupa Cagers Jaggie Gregorio Quezon Huskers John Gilbor Negros Muscovados Rham Irahim Zamboanga Master Sardines Jay Javelosa Iloilo United Royals John Kallos Sarangani Marlins Alvin Munio Zamboanga Master Sardines Manny Pacquiao Rafzan Ali Pendatun Imus AgimatHead coach: Mermann Flores (South Cotabato Warriors)

Game

Slam Dunk Showdown The contestants for the Slam Dunk Showdown were revealed on August 21, 2024. The format was changed to have two dunks in the final round instead of one.

+Contestants Player Team First round Final round Joe Gomez de Llaño Pampanga Giant Lanterns 100 (50+50) 94 (48+46) CJ Gania Negros Muscovados 100 (50+50) 79 (47+32) Warlo Batac Muntinlupa Cagers 93 (45+48) rowspan=5 Mark Meneses Pangasinan Heatwaves 88 (44+44) Rodel Gravera Quezon Huskers 83 (39+44) Poypoy Actub Biñan Tatak Gel 81 (31+50) Rhinwill Yambing Quezon City Toda Aksyon 63 (33+30) Ximone Sandagon Quezon Huskers colspan=2 Notes Player highlighted in gold is the event's defending champion.

Three-Point Shootout The contestants for the Three-Point Shootout were revealed on August 20, 2024. The format was changed to have three rounds instead of two.

+Contestants Player Team First round (Tiebreaker) Second round (Tiebreaker) Final round Orlan Wamar Jr. San Juan Knights 18 15 (12) 16 AC Soberano San Juan Knights 18 15 (11) 14 Ryan Sual Sarangani Marlins 15 16 12 Yves Sazon Bataan Risers 12 15 (5) rowspan=3 Jeramer Cabanag Caloocan Batang Kankaloo 14 13 Jonathan Gesalem Quezon City Toda Aksyon 10 (10) 11 Choi Ignacio Zamboanga Master Sardines 10 (6) colspan=2 rowspan=6 Wendel Comboy Abra Weavers 10 (4) Kurt Reyson Pampanga Giant Lanterns 8 Domark Matillano Quezon Huskers 7 Dennis Santos Valenzuela Classic 7 Axel Iñigo Pasay Voyagers 6 Ronnie Alonte Biñan Tatak Gel colspan=3 rowspan=2 Kraniel Villoria Rizal Golden Coolers Notes Player highlighted in gold is the event's defending champion.

Notes

References