2026 PBA All-Star Weekend

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2026 PBA All-Star Weekend
North All-Stars South All-Stars
147 142
1234Total
North All-Stars 50293929147
South All-Stars 36364921142
DateMarch 6 and 8, 2026
VenueCandon City Arena, Candon, Ilocos Sur
MVPJapeth Aguilar
NetworkRPTV, PBA Rush, Pilipinas Live

The 2026 PBA All-Star Weekend, also known as the PBA season 50 All-Star Weekend, was the 33rd edition of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)'s All-Star Weekend. The event was hosted on March 6 and 8, 2026 at Candon City Arena in Candon, Ilocos Sur. It was the first All-Star Weekend since 2024 as the 2025 edition was cancelled due to security concerns, and the first to be held in Luzon since Calasiao's hosting in 2019.

Background

On September 13, 2025, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial announced the locations of the next two All-Star Weekends. The 2026 PBA All-Star Weekend was hosted by Candon, Ilocos Sur in March while the 2027 event will be hosted by Cagayan de Oro. He also stated that the 2026 All-Star Weekend had been awarded to Candon as early as 2023.[1]

All-Star Weekend side events

As was the case in 2024, the Slam Dunk Contest was not held as part of the 2026 weekend festivities. Instead, there was a second Obstacle Challenge.

Obstacle Challenge

The Obstacle Challenge was held on March 6. Alongside the traditional event for big men (power forwards and centers), a separate event was held for guards.[2]

Big men

One player from each team was selected to participate in the contest. JM Calma of the San Miguel Beermen was the defending champion of the Obstacle Challenge.

Pos. Player Team Height
(ft. / in.)
Weight (lb)
C Japeth AguilarBarangay Ginebra San Miguel 6' 9"235
PF/C Abu TratterBlackwater Bossing 6' 5"231
C Justin AranaConverge FiberXers 6' 7"231
C James LaputMagnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots 6' 10"245
C Brandon BatesMeralco Bolts 6' 9"231
C/PF Brandon RamirezNLEX Road Warriors 6' 5"
PF/C Kai BallungayPhoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters 6' 7"215
PF/C Leonard SantillanRain or Shine Elasto Painters 6' 4"210
C JM CalmaSan Miguel Beermen 6' 6"193
C Geo ChiuTerrafirma Dyip 6' 10"
C/PF Damie CuntapayTitan Ultra Giant Risers 6' 5"
C/PF Henry GalinatoTNT Tropang 5G 6' 6"245
Notes
  • Gold represent current champion.
First Round Semifinals
      
JM Calma (San Miguel) L
Japeth Aguilar (Barangay Ginebra) W
Japeth Aguilar (Barangay Ginebra) L
James Laput (Magnolia) W
Justin Arana (Converge) L
James Laput (Magnolia) W
First Round Semifinals
      
Damie Cuntapay (Titan Ultra) L
Henry Galinato (TNT) W
Henry Galinato (TNT) L
Brandon Bates (Meralco) W
Brandon Bates (Meralco) W
Abu Tratter (Blackwater) L
First Round Semifinals
      
Leonard Santillan (Rain or Shine) L
Brandon Ramirez (NLEX) W
Brandon Ramirez (NLEX) W
Geo Chiu (Terrafirma) L
Geo Chiu (Terrafirma) W
Kai Ballungay (Phoenix Super LPG) L
Final round[3]
Pos.PlayerTeamTime
CBrandon BatesMeralco Bolts22.88s
C/PFBrandon RamirezNLEX Road Warriors27.26s
CJames LaputMagnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots45.69s

Guards

One player from each team was selected to participate in the contest.

Pos. Player Team Height
(ft. / in.)
Weight (lb)
PG RJ AbarrientosBarangay Ginebra San Miguel 5' 11"174
PG Dalph PanopioBlackwater Bossing 6' 1"180
PG/SG Juan Gómez de LiañoConverge FiberXers 6' 0"163
PG Jerom LastimosaMagnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots 5' 11"
SG CJ CansinoMeralco Bolts 6' 2"
PG/SG Robert BolickNLEX Road Warriors 6' 1"178
SF Francis EscandorPhoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters 6' 3"
PG Felix Pangilinan-LemettiRain or Shine Elasto Painters 6' 1"190
PG Juami TiongsonSan Miguel Beermen 5' 10"175
SG Jerrick AhanmisiTerrafirma Dyip 6' 1"185
PG Fran YuTitan Ultra Giant Risers 5' 9"154
PG/SG Rey NambatacTNT Tropang 5G 5' 11"
Final round[4]
Pos.PlayerTeamTime
SGJerrick AhanmisiTerrafirma Dyip24.94s
PGDalph PanopioBlackwater Bossing26.97s
PG/SGRey NambatacTNT Tropang 5G27.94s
PG/SGJuan Gómez de LiañoConverge FiberXers35.83s
PGFran YuTitan Ultra Giant Risers37.52s
PGJuami TiongsonSan Miguel Beermen50.70s

Three-Point Shootout

The Three-Point Shootout was held on March 6 as a single event rather than being split into two as was the case in 2024.[2] One player from each team was selected to participate in the contest.

Pos. Player Team Height
(ft. / in.)
Weight (lb) First round Final round
SG Jerrick AhanmisiTerrafirma Dyip 6' 1"1852230
SF/SG Marcio LassiterSan Miguel Beermen 6' 2"1852525
PG/SG Juan Gómez de LiañoConverge FiberXers 6' 0"1632218
PF/SF Ralph CuBarangay Ginebra San Miguel 6' 4"21021 DNQ
PG Andrei CaracutRain or Shine Elasto Painters 5' 10"18021
SF/SG Javi Gómez de LiañoMagnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots 6' 3"19319
SG CJ CansinoMeralco Bolts 6' 2"19
SG Xyrus TorresNLEX Road Warriors 6' 0"17
SF Francis EscandorPhoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters 6' 3"16
SF Calvin OftanaTNT Tropang 5G 6' 5"18616
SG/PG Sedrick BarefieldBlackwater Bossing 6' 2"19014
SF King CaralipioTitan Ultra Giant Risers 6' 2"17612
Notes
  • Gold represent current champion.

Blitz Game (Rookies and Sophomores vs. Juniors)

The Blitz Game was held on March 6 as the final Friday event. The game returned to the Rookies and Sophomores vs. Juniors format used in 2019 instead of the Greats vs. Stalwarts format used in 2023 and 2024.

Since Leo Austria and Chot Reyes were selected as the All-Star Game head coaches, the two Blitz Game teams were coached by an assistant coach from either San Miguel Beermen or TNT Tropang 5G.[5] Notably, RJ Abarrientos and Juan Gómez de Liaño aren't part of the Blitz Game despite having enough votes to be selected, due to their inclusion in the All-Star Game.[6]

Game

March 6
7:00 pm
Juniors 150, Rookies and Sophomores 154
Scoring by quarter: 35–32, 29–31, 41–49, 45–42
Pts: Rivero 30 Pts: Lastimosa 27
Candon City Arena, Candon, Ilocos Sur

Shooting Stars

The Shooting Stars commenced for the first time since 2024. There was one PBA courtside reporter, one PBA player, one government official, one sportswriter and a lucky fan. Team Blue led by Tiebreaker Times sportswriter Justine Bacnis won the Shooting Stars.

All-Star Game

The 2026 PBA All-Star Game featured the return of the North vs. South format last used in 2019.

Rosters

The San Miguel Beermen's Leo Austria and TNT Tropang 5G's Chot Reyes (pictured) were selected as the All-Star Game head coaches.

Voting ran from December 5, 2025, to January 18, 2026, and nominees were divided into North and South based on their place of origin. The starters for each team are decided through the fan voting system while the reserves are selected by the league's head coaches.

The North All-Stars was coached by Leo Austria of the San Miguel Beermen, who would be coaching in his fifth All-Star Game and first since 2018. Japeth Aguilar of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel was the leading vote-getter among North nominees. He was joined by Calvin Abueva and Juan Gómez de Liaño of Converge FiberXers, Stephen Holt of Barangay Ginebra, and CJ Perez of San Miguel in the starting lineup.

The reserves for the North include Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar of Converge, CJ Cansino and Chris Newsome of Meralco Bolts, Zavier Lucero of Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, Adrian Nocum of Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and Don Trollano of San Miguel.

The South All-Stars was coached by Chot Reyes of the TNT Tropang 5G, who would be coaching in his eighth All-Star Game and first since 2018. June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel had the most votes among South nominees. The rest of the starters includes RJ Abarrientos and Scottie Thompson of Barangay Ginebra, Robert Bolick of NLEX Road Warriors and Calvin Oftana of TNT.

Completing the South roster are reserves JB Bahio of NLEX, Jericho Cruz of San Miguel, Rey Nambatac and Roger Pogoy of TNT, Leonard Santillan and Caelan Tiongson of Rain or Shine and Alec Stockton of Converge.[8]

Abueva, Aguilar, and Fajardo are all selected for their tenth All-Star Game.

  • ^DNP1 Zavier Lucero did not participate.
  • ^REP1 Gian Mamuyac played in place of Zavier Lucero.
  • ^INJ1 Scottie Thompson did not play due to an injury.
  • ^ST1 Leonard Santillan started in place of Scottie Thompson.
  • ^INJ2 Jericho Cruz did not play due to an achilles injury.
  • ^INJ3 Roger Pogoy did not play due to a hamstring injury.

Game

March 8
7:30 pm
North All-Stars 147, South All-Stars 142
Scoring by quarter: 50–36, 29–36, 39–49, 29–21
Pts: Perez 32 Pts: Stockton 29

Notes

  1. Abueva was still a member of the Titan Ultra Giant Risers during the voting period before being traded to Converge. He has not debuted for the team prior to the All-Star Game.

References

  1. Beltran, Nelson (November 28, 2025). "PBA brings back All-Stars". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
  2. Ballesteros, Jan (February 8, 2026). "Calvin Oftana, JM Calma out to retain titles in PBA All-Star Weekend". One Sports. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  3. Terrado, Reuben (March 6, 2026). "PBA ALL-STARS: Brandon Bates is new Obstacle Challenge Bigs champ". SPIN.ph. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
  4. Ramos, Gerry (March 6, 2026). "Jerrick Ahanmisi joins brod Maverick as Obstacle Challenge champ". SPIN.ph. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
  5. Ballesteros, Jan (February 13, 2026). "PBA All-Stars: Barefield leads Rookies/Sophomores vs Rivero, Juniors". One Sports. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  6. Ramos, Gerry (February 10, 2026). "RJ, Juan GDL won't play in Rookie-Sophomore vs Juniors showcase". SPIN.ph. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  7. "Rookies/Sophomores prevails over Juniors in All-Star side events". pba.ph. March 6, 2026. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
  8. Ballesteros, Jan (February 13, 2026). "PBA All-Star cast complete as South, June Mar Fajardo take on North young bigs". One Sports. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  9. "Aguilar, Arana lead North past South in All-Star game". pba.ph. March 8, 2026. Retrieved March 11, 2026.