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[[Image:Faro de La Serena.jpg|thumb|258px|Faro of The City]]
The '''Philippine Basketball Association All-Star Weekend''' is the annual gathering of the best players of the [[Philippine Basketball Association]] playing for various events such as the 3-point shootout, skills competition such as Obstacle and Trick-shot challenges, Rookies vs. Sophomores Blitz Game, Slam Dunk competition, Shooting stars, Legends 3-point challenge and culminated by the All-Star Game. It is patterned after the All-Star Weekend of the National Basketball Association.
[[Image:La Serena-Coquimbo-02.jpg|thumb|258px|The city of La Serena with the port city of [[Coquimbo, Chile|Coquimbo]] in the background]]
[[Image:Plaza de Armas - La Serena.jpg|thumb|250px|Plaza de Armas]]
'''La Serena''' ("the serene one") is the second oldest city in [[Chile]]. The city, located 471 km north of [[Santiago, Chile|Santiago]], has a population of 147,815, according to the 2002 census. There are also 12,333 inhabitants of the immediately surrounding countryside. It is one of the fastest-growing areas of Chile, witnessing a population increase of 32.6% between [[1992]] and [[2002]].
The annual All-Star Game was instituted in 1989 and has already evolved into different types of competition such as the North vs. South match-up (presently adopted), Rookies, Sophomores & Juniors (RSJ) vs. Veterans, Commissioners All-Stars vs. Governors All-Stars, etc. The manner by which players to the All-Star Game were selected has also been changed as the same was again patterned before the NBA type of selection. Originally, the two coaches tapped to lead the two All-Star teams were the ones who selected their players but over the years the starting five are now selected through fan voting and the reserves would now be the ones chosen by the coaches. For the 2005-2006 season, fans from the host city or province were given the choice to select the sixth man of each team. After each game, an All-Star Most Valuable Player (MVP) was chosen by writers covering the annual event.
It was first founded by Spaniard Captain [[Juan Bohón]] in [[September 4]] [[1544]] on the orders of [[Pedro de Valdivia]] in order to provide a sea link between Santiago and [[Lima]]. In [[1549]] the town was totally destroyed by local Indians and re-founded the same year by Captain Francisco de Aguirre in a safer ___location. The town has retained its historic architecture and this, along with a selection of beaches (known as Avenida del Mar, "Sea Avenue"), has caused the city to become a significant tourist centre, attracting many foreigners (most of them Argentines from San Juan and Mendoza provinces) during January, and later Santiago residents fleeing February heat.
[[Vergel Meneses]] had clearly stamped his mark on this mid-year festivities as he remains to be the only four-time All-Star MVP awardee bagging the award in 1995, 1998, 2000 and 2003. In its entire history, only two players have been named multiple winners of the All-Star MVP award namely, Meneses and [[Benjie Paras]] who won the award in 1994 and 1999.
Its traditional architecture consists of a series of housing and public buildings, of late 19th-century vintage, built with wood from the [[USA|US]] state of [[Oregon]] brought to Chile as counterweight in sailing vessels coming to [[Coquimbo]], the nearby port, to load copper and other minerals for transport back to the US. This Oregon pine and the use of [[adobe]] create the genuine image of the city.
[[Jerry Codiñera]], [[Alvin Patrimonio]] and Meneses are the only players with at least 10 All-Star appearances since its inception.
There is also a number of remarkable and valuable small churches built of sedimentary stone quarried 5 km to the north of the [[Elqui River]], having a characteristic color and texture formed by myriad small shells. These churches are all roughly 350 years old and have undergone restoration to varying degrees, bringing them back to their original form. San Francisco, San Agustín, Santo Domingo are the names of a few of them.
Last year the winners in the All-Star Weekend are as follows: (a) South over North, 122-120 in the main All-Star Game with Asi Taulava named All-Star MVP, (b) Sophomores over the Rookies, 130-123, (c) Willie Miller in the Obstacle and Trick Shot Challenges, (d) William Antonio in the 3-point shootout, (e) Niño Cañaleta in the Slam Dunk competition, (f) Tony dela Cruz in the shooting stars event and (f) the team of Jojo Lastimosa, Ricardo Marata and Boybits Victoria in the Legends Shootout.
The Cathedral, built from the same stone, dates from the 19th century. It must be said that although it lacks the same historical value as the older churches, this is a stone building in a country prone to seismic activity, and has survived various earthquakes. Indeed, during centuries of existence, there is almost no visible damage. All of these churches, along with others of minor importance, provide a unique urban landscape, an image for the city, giving it the nickname "''The City of Churches''."
For the 2006-07 season, the league will have their All-Star Week from [[April 25]]-[[April 29|29]], [[2007]], with festivities being held in two different cities. The PBA Blitz Game (Rookies vs. Sophomores) will be held in [[San Fernando City, La Union]], while the PBA All-Star Game will be held in [[Baguio City]], on All-Star Weekend.
==List of all-star games==
{{incomplete list}}
{| class=wikitable
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
|-
! Year !! Winning team !! Score !! Losing team !! MVP !! Venue
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
|[[1989 PBA season|1989]] || Veterans || 132-130 || Rookies-Sophomores-Juniors || [[Elmer Cabahug]] (Veterans)|| [[PhilSports Arena|The ULTRA]], [[Pasig City]]
|-
|[[1990 PBA season|1990]] || Veterans || 146-118 || Rookies-Sophomores-Juniors || [[Samboy Lim]] (Veterans) || -
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
|[[1991 PBA season|1991]] || Veterans || - || Rookies-Sophomores-Juniors || [[Alvin Patrimonio]] (Veterans) || -
|-
|[[1992 PBA season|1992]] || South All-Stars || 108-105 || North All-Stars || [[Alvin Teng]] (South) || -
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
|[[1993 PBA season|1993]] || North All-Stars || 149-129 || South All-Stars || [[Allan Caidic]] (North) || -
|-
|[[1994 PBA season|1994]] || North All-Stars || 133-124 || South All-Stars || [[Benjie Paras]] (North) || -
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
|[[1995 PBA season|1995]] || Veterans || - || Rookies-Sophomores-Juniors || [[Vergel Meneses]] (Veterans) || -
|-
|[[1996 PBA season|1996]] || Rookies-Sophomores-Juniors || - || Veterans || [[Kenneth Duremdes]] (R-S-J) || -
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
|[[1997 PBA season|1997]] || Rookies-Sophomores-Juniors || - || Veterans || [[Bal David]] (R-S-J) || -
|-
|[[1998 PBA season|1998]] || [[Philippine Centennial Team]] || 107-92 || PBA All-Stars || [[Vergel Meneses]] (Centennials) || [[Cuneta Astrodome]], [[Pasay City]]
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
|[[1999 PBA season|1999]] || Veterans || - || Rookies-Sophomores-Juniors || [[Benjie Paras]] (Veterans) || -
|-
|[[2000 PBA season|2000]] || Veterans || 93-78 || Rookies-Sophomores-Juniors || [[Vergel Meneses]] (Veterans) || [[San Agustin Gym]], [[Iloilo City]]
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
|[[2001 PBA season|2001]] || Veterans || 112-105 || Rookies-Sophomores-Juniors || [[Danny Ildefonso]] (Veterans) || [[Araneta Coliseum]], [[Quezon City]]
|-
|[[2002 PBA season|2002]] ||colspan=5 align=center| ''No game held''
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
|[[2003 PBA season|2003]] || Governor's All-Stars || 124-122 || Commissioner's All-Stars || [[Vergel Meneses]] (Governor's) || [[Araneta Coliseum]], [[Quezon City]]
|-
|[[2004-05 PBA season|2004]] || South All-Stars || 130-128 || North All-Stars || [[Asi Taulava]] / [[Jimmy Alapag]] (South) || [[New Cebu City Coliseum]], [[Cebu City]]
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
|[[2005-06 PBA season|2005]] || North All-Stars || 131-128 || South All-Stars || [[Jayjay Helterbrand]] (North) || [[Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena]], [[Laoag City]]
|-
|[[2005-06 PBA season|2006]] || South All-Stars || 122-120 || North All-Stars || [[Asi Taulava]] (South) || [[Xavier University (Cagayan de Oro)|Xavier University]], [[Cagayan de Oro City]]
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
|[[2006-07 PBA season|2007]] ||colspan=3 align=center| North All-Stars<br>vs.<br>South All-Stars || TBD || [[Baguio City]]
|}
A few of the major sectors are: El Centro ("downtown"), Peñuelas (actually a suburb between La Serena and its sister city [[Coquimbo]]), San Joaquín (neighborhood on a hill overlooking the ocean), La Florida, Las Compañías ("the companies"), Cerro Grande ("big hill"), La Antena and the new El Milagro ("the miracle") development.
===Blitz Game: Rookies vs. Sophomores===
{| class=wikitable
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Year !! Winning team !! Score !! Losing team !! MVP !! Venue
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
|[[2005-06 PBA season|2005]]* || Sophomores || 122-106 || Rookies || [[Nelbert Omolon]] (Sophomores) || [[Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena]], [[Laoag City]]
|-
|[[2005-06 PBA season|2006]]* || Sophomores || 130-123 || Rookies || [[Nelbert Omolon]] (Sophomores) || [[Xavier University (Cagayan de Oro)|Xavier University]], [[Cagayan de Oro City]]
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
|[[2006-07 PBA season|2007]] ||colspan=3 align=center| Rookies<br>vs.<br>Sophomores || TBD || [[San Fernando City, La Union]]
|}
===OtherExternal games=links==
*[http://www.userena.cl// University of La Serena]
{| class=wikitable
*[http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/85488.html/ weather forecast]
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
*[http://www.visit-chile.org/norte/h21.phtml Chilean tourist site for La Serena]
! Year !! Winning team !! Score !! Losing team !! MVP !! Venue
*[http://www.intimahinatravel.cl travel agency]
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
{{coor title dm|29|54|S|71|15|W|region:CL_type:city}}
|[[1979 PBA season|1979]] || [[Washington Wizards|Washington Bullets]] || 133-123 || PBA All-Stars || - || [[Araneta Coliseum]], [[Quezon City]]
|-
|[[2000 PBA season|2000]] || PBA All-Stars || 101-81 || ABC (now [[FIBA Asia]]) All-Stars || [[Johnny Abarrientos]] (PBA All-Stars)|| [[PhilSports Arena]], [[Pasig City]]
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
|[[2003 PBA season|2003]] || [[Toyota Super Corollas|Toyota Tamaraws]] || 65-61 || [[Crispa Redmanizers]] || [[Terry Saldaña]] (Toyota) || [[Araneta Coliseum]], [[Quezon City]]
|}
[[Category:Cities in Chile]]
{{PBA}}
[[Category:Communes of Chile]]
[[Category:Capitals of Chilean regions]]
[[Category:Settlements established in 1544]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Coquimbo Region]]
[[de:La Serena]]
==External links==
[[es:La Serena (Chile)]]
*[http://www.pba.ph/content/view/116/1/ ALL-STAR GAME HEAD-TO-HEAD: NORTH 2, SOUTH 1] Saturday, 07 August 2004
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*[http://www.pba.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=917&Itemid=59 PBA ALL-STAR WEEKEND GOES TO MISAMIS ORIENTAL: Cagayan de Oro hub of activities April 27-29] Monday, 27 March 2006
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