'Gilas' mainstays headline UAAP Stars

Smart Gilas members Dylan Ababou, Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Aldrech Ramos will headline the UAAP All-Stars in their match against their counterparts from the NCAA in Saturday's Bantay Bata 163 All-Star Games at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Ababou, who was named as the league's Most Valuable Player, hopes to lead the UAAP stars to their second straight victory in this annual event to benefit two charities handled by the ABS-CBN Foundation.

Al-Hussaini, capped off his collegiate career by winning the Finals MVP award as Ateneo won its second straight championship while Ramos spearheaded Far Eastern University's entry into the Final Four.

The Blue Eagles will have five players on the squad as Al-Hussaini will be joined by Jai Reyes, Nico Salva, Eric Salamat and Ryan Buenafe.

Other players who will join the squad are Paul Lee and Pari Llagas from University of the East, JR Cawaling, also an RP team member, RR Garcia and Reil Cervantes from Far Eastern University, Kish Co of La Salle, Jan Colina from Adamson, Alvin Padilla of University of the Philippines and National University's Kokoy Hermosisima.

Ateneo's Nonoy Baclao, UE's Elmer Espiritu and UST's Khazim Mirza were added to the squad but were replaced by Salva, Llagas and Cervantes as they are now suiting up for the ASEAN Basketball League's Philippine Patriots.

La Salle's Joshua Webb was also in the lineup but will not play in the game as the Archers will be in Naga City to compete in the South Luzon-Metro Manila zonal phase of the 2009 Philippine Collegiate Champions League.

Gametime starts at 4 p.m. after the 1 p.m. tussle between the juniors all-stars from both leagues followed by side events such as the three-point shootout and the slam dunk contest.