Details on the arrival of the star-studded NBA team have been kept under wraps for security reasons. But thanks to the social networking site Twitter, Filipino fans got a clear idea of what to expect this weekend.

They will all be here.

Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Derek Fisher, Derrick Williams, Tyreke Evans, James Harden and Javale McGee arrive today on two separate Cathay Pacific flights to play against a PBA selection and Smart Gilas Pilipinas in the Smart Ultimate All-Star Weekend beginning tomorrow at the Araneta Coliseum.

“Headed to the Philippines tomorrow night (early Friday morning)...I can’t wait! Are y’all ready??” twitted Durant, the two-time scoring champion of the Oklahoma Thunder, early yesterday.

“WHEELS DOWN in NY (New York)...in 2hrs WHEELS Up to Manila!!! “Big S/O (shoutout) to the Philippines...On my wayyy!!!” Paul, the former Rookie of the Year of the New Orleans Hornets, twitted the same day.

“Tomorrow (early today) I head to the Philippines to play in Manila. Can’t wait,” said Evans, another former ROY awardee, of the Sacramento Kings.

There were earlier reports that the star-studded cast would be arriving Thursday with Chot Reyes twitting that the group has assembled in Los Angeles and San Francisco Wednesday en route to Manila.

The PBA selection will get a first crack at the NBA superstars when they clash at 7 p.m. tomorrow while Smart Gilas will have its turn on Sunday at 1 p.m.

The event, the biggest gathering of NBA stars here, is held to raise funds for the eight sports beneficiaries of the MVPSF headed by Al Panlilio.

The two-day basketball extravaganza is also a gift of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan to basketball-loving Filipino fans.



Slam-dunking and shotblock artist McGee of the Washington Wizards was as excited as the three while Williams, who was drafted second overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in last month’s NBA rookie draft, said he would love to see boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao.

“Pierre is going to find some cool place to plank in Manila!!!” said the seven-foot McGee, who placed second in this year’s NBA slam dunk contest to eventual winner Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers.

“I better see Pacquiao too! Big pictures,” twitted Williams.

Organizers announced in a press conference last week that all but five-time champion Kobe Bryant are scheduled to arrive yesterday with Bryant to be fetched today in Shanghai, China for the last stop of his Nike Asian Tour.

Bryant, who played with the UAAP All-Stars against Smart Gilas in the kickoff leg of the Nike Tour last week, will coach the stellar team.

Meanwhile, organizers said fans, who managed to purchase tickets on-line, at the Big Dome and through scalpers, will not be allowed to bring any SLR cameras or video equipment not accredited by organizers. They would have to settle for point and shoot cameras though.

“DO NOT bring your DSLR or video cameras to the #SmartUltimateAllStarWeekend! They’ll only allow point and shoot cams,” twitted one official privy to the group that made the dream weekend a reality.

The event is sponsored by Smart, PLDT, Meralco, Maynilad, TV5, Metro Pacific Tollways and Investment Corp. and Philex Mining. – With report from Rudy Santos