By Rey Joble

MAC-Mac Cardona and Jimmy Alapag of Talk N Text will have a chance to prove their worth.

And so with Dondon Hontiveros and Ren-Ren Ritualo, two former RP team members left out in the selection made by coach Yeng Guiao for the team that will represent the country in the Fiba Asia Men?s Basketball Championship.

For the second time in the history of the All-Star Game, the Philippine Basketball Association will deviate from its traditional North versus South, Light versus Dark or Rookies, Sophomores, Juniors versus Veterans.

The remaining stars not included in the national team will represent the North and the South selections, which will go up against Guiao?s RP five in the annual All-Star Game to be staged in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

This will be the second time in the history of the PBA the league will feature the Nationals in the All-Star Game. In 1998, the Centennial squad of coach Tim Cone battled a selection of players reinforced by imports.

?This will be our own way of helping the national team by giving them the exposure they need,? said PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios.

Guiao?s RP five will also have a scheduled pocket tournament from Feb. 21 to 24. The Nationals will face a club team from Puerto Rico and the SBP RP developmental squad, to be handled by Serbian coach Rajko Toroman.

Guiao, who also coaches Burger King in the PBA, is clueless as which club team will they face in the pocket event.