PASSI CITY – After a three-year wait, the stars have finally descended to the beautiful province of Iloilo as the Ilonggos came out and expressed their warmest welcome to the PBA delegation on Thursday, March 9, here.

Passi City Mayor Atty. Stephen Palmares led the warm reception, holding a lunch press conference at the Midway Freshmarket Restaurant after league officials headed by commissioner Willie Marcial, along with the coaches and players of the Greats and Stalwarts teams, paid a courtesy visit to his office.

The Ilonggos finally got the chance to meet their favorite PBA stars after initial plans to hold the All-Star event in Passi in 2019 was shelved due to the Covid-19 pandemic

They got to have a close encounter with PBA stars bannered by All-Star game captains Japeth Aguilar and Scottie Thompson during a meet-and-greet at the City Mall and motorcade around the city which also happened to be celebrating its 25th foundation.

"Laking bagay talaga na yung PBA nandito sa Passi because No.1 it is our 25th founding anniversary, so with the presence of the PBA malaki talaga yung kontribusyon at maitutulong dito sa city namin to promote the Passi City not only in central Panay but in the entire country," said Palmares during the press conference.

He was joined by Marcial, Passi All-Star project director Eric Castro, Agriculture undersecretary Jesry Palmares, RSJ game coaches Caloy Garcia and Richard del Rosario along with Aguilar and Thompson during the event.

Grateful for the welcome, the PBA vowed to give the Ilonggo fans a treat starting with skill challenges on Friday at 3 p.m. before the much-anticipated RSJ game led by first picks Justin Arana for Team Greats and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser for Team Stalwarts at 6 p.m. at the City of Passi Arena.