Old warriors Taulava, Menk ready for the All-Stars

The Rock Asi Taulava and Major Pain Eric Menk together in one team. That’s definitely a very formidable frontline combination. The two elder citizens of the Philippine Basketball Association All-Stars will be the main men up front for the South selection this Sunday in Puerto Princesa. Taulava, a 6-foot-9 slotman from the Coca-Cola Tigers and mainstay of the all-pro national team since 2002, and Menk, a 6-foot-6 center of Barangay Ginebra, are the oldest players of today’s batch of All-Stars. The Fil-Tongan Taulava, a two-time Most Valuable Player in the All-Star Game (2004 and 2006), just turned 37 last March 2, but remains to be the most dominant local player in the league. Menk will turn 36 this August. Since winning the Most Valuable Player award in the PBA’s first transition season -- the 2004-05 season – his career took a tailspin when he suffered a series of injuries. But Menk worked his way up in 2008 and even led the Gin Kings to the Fiesta Cup crown against the Air21 Express in front of a record-crowd of 22,000-plus fans. During the deciding seventh game of the series, he finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds Menk will be appearing on his ninth PBA All-Star. Asked about the team’s chances in the coming event, Taulava had a modest objective – go out and entertain the crowd. “The All-Star Game is for the fans. It’s a perfect avenue for us to entertain them and give them a treat," said Taulava. “It’s also a good chance for us to get away from our usual routine wherein we’re tied up within a system. It’s more of a free flowing game in the All-Stars," he added. Taulava and Menk will bolster the South All-Stars which will also have former MVPs Kelly Williams of Sta. Lucia Realty and reigning long-distance shootout king James Yap of B-Meg Derby Ace and Cyrus Baguio of Barangay Ginebra. Size and heft will be the advantage of the South All-Stars against the starters from the North All-Stars, which will be composed of last season’s Rookie of the Year Gabe Norwood, energetic players Marc Pingris and Paul Artadi of B-Meg Derby Ace and JC Intal and Jayjay Helterbrand of Barangay Ginebra. Also included in the North All-Stars, who will be handled by Philippine Cup champion coach Ryan Gregorio of Derby Ace are rookie Rico Maierhofer of B-Meg Derby Ace, Willie Miller of Alaska, Ranidel de Ocampo and Mac Cardona of Talk N Text, Sol Mercado of Rain or Shine, Ryan Reyes of Sta. Lucia and Arwind Santos of San Miguel Beer. The reserves for the South-All Stars, which will be handled by veteran mentor Tim Cone, are Jimmy Alapag of Talk N Text, Roger Yap of B-Meg Derby Ace, Reynel Hugnatan, Sonny Thoss, and Joe Devance of Alaska, Ronald Tubid of Barangay Ginebra, and Dondon Hontiveros of San Miguel Beer. - Rey Joble, GMANews.TV