The PBA is set to hold the All-Star Weekend, which will be highlighted by the All-Star Game between Team Japeth and Team Barroca, from March 23 to 24 in Bacolod.
Due to a nagging back injury, former MVP Scottie Thompson is forced to skip the PBA All-Star festivities this weekend.
Enter Aris Dionisio.
The Magnolia standout will take the place of Thompson for Team Japeth in the All-Star game on Sunday, March 24.
Dionisio will join the Tim Cone-led squad featuring Magnolia teammates Paul Lee and Calvin Abueva, as well as Ginebra big man Christian Standhardinger, and San Miguel star Terrence Romeo.
[RELATED STORY: 2024 PBA All-Star Game set for Team Japeth, Team Barroca]
The Bacolod spectacle will also see TNT sniper RR Pogoy replace Phoenix ace Tyler Tio, who is nursing an ankle injury he sustained in their Philippine Cup opener against NorthPort.
Pogoy will also reinforce Team Japeth, while Ken Tuffin will compete in the Long Distance Three-point contest as replacement for Tio.
[RELATED STORY: TNT ace RR Pogoy to replace Phoenix's Tyler Tio for All-Star Weekend in Bacolod]
Meanwhile, Blackwater rookie Christian David will join the Team Stalwarts in the Rookie-Sophomore-Juniors Blitz Game in Keith Datu’s (MCL injury) stead.
Rain or Shine’s Santi Santillan will take Datu’s place in the Obstacle Challenge and Long Distance Three-Point Shootout among big men.
The no. 2 overall pick in the previous Draft will team up with Rookie of the Year award frontrunner Stephen Holt of Terrafirma, NorthPort’s Joshua Munzon and Fran Yu.
Kyt Jimenez will also sit out the Blitz Game after a bathroom incident that saw him end up with 19 stitches on his right forearm. He told One Sports in a previous interview he will be out for at least two months.