THE stars align as the 2014 Philippine Basketball Association All-Star weekend unfolds today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The mid-season festivities, such as the Obstacle Challenge, Three-Point Shootout, Slam Dunk Contest and Legends Game, will all  be showcased. A shooting stars challenge will also be inserted.

Starting at 5:30 p.m., the Skills Challenge will take place with the Obstacle Challenge going first, followed by the Three-Point Shootout and the Slam Dunk Contest before the PBA Legends’ Game between the Greats and Stalwarts starts at 8 p.m.

The ultimate showdown between the PBA All-Stars and the Smart Gilas Pilpinas National Team will be on Sunday at 5 p.m.

The PBA Greats and Stalwarts will once again be composed of active players and former cagers combined.

The Greats will be led by playing coach Atoy Co along with Rey Guevarra of Meralco, Rookie spitfire Terrence Romeo of GlobalPort, two-time MVP Willie Miller of Barako Bull, Jvee Casio of Alaska, Jonas Villanueva of Air21 and Cliff Hodge, also of the Bolts for the current players. They will be joined by legends like Freddie Abuda, Vergel Meneses, Jason Webb, Johnedel Cardel and Express head coach Franz Pumaren.

The Stalwarts will be composed of Bogs Adornado as its playing coach, Sol Mercado of San Miguel Beer, John Wilson of Meralco, Ronjay Buenafe of the Energy Colas, Chris Tiu of Rain or Shine, Mac Cardona of Air21 and Jervy Cruz of the Elasto Painters for the active players. The legends that will team up with them are Noli Locsin, Bal David, Jeffrey Cariaso, Dickie Bachman and Richard Del Rosario.

The Stalwarts will try to make it two in a row.

Four-time defending champion Villanueva goes for his fifth straight Obstacles Challenge crown against Casio, Miller, Romeo, Hodge, Mercado, LA Tenorio of Barangay Ginebra, Paul Lee of Rain or Shine, Philippine Cup Finals MVP Marc Barroca of San Mig Coffee and Jayson Castro of Talk ‘N Text.

In the Three-Point Shootout, Tiu tries to defend his crown against three-time former champion Mark Macapagal of GlobalPort, who’ll try to regain the title after losing it last year. They will also be up against Casio, Buenafe, Cardona, Mac Baracael of Ginebra, Gary David of Meralco, Marcio Lassiter of San Miguel, James Yap of San Mig Coffee and Larry Fonacier of Talk ‘N Text.

In the Slam Dunk Contest, defending champion Chris Ellis of Barangay Ginebra will have his hands full as he’ll face a stiff test from various aerial artists such as high-leaping Justin Melton of the Coffee Mixers, Calvin Abueva of Alaska, Arwind Santos of San Miguel, Hodge, Guevarra and former champion Japeth Aguilar of the Gin Kings as well.

The players actually had their motorcade yesterday around Pasay City to kick-off the All-Star festivities.