Allyzza Kay Trinidad

Gerald's evolution from MVP to coach at Star Magic All-Star Games

Article (news)

Hardcourt Powerhouse: Gerald Anderson’s evolution from MVP record-holder to coach at Star Magic All-Star Games

Liezel Dela Cruz

<p>Gerald Anderson doesn’t do anything half-heartedly, whether it&#x27;s acting or his first love, basketball. In a past episode of digital talk show <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/chat" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>Kapamilya Chat</u></strong></a>, Gerald was asked what career he might have pursued had showbiz not happened, and he said he could’ve been a professional basketball player. Before joining &quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/pinoy-big-brother-collab-v2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u><em>Pinoy Big Brother</em></u></strong></a>,&quot; he was a high school varsity player.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2025/6/24/gerald-opens-up-about-work-pressure-and-love-in-kapamilya-chat-s-drink-it-challenge-0016" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>READ:  Gerald opens up about work, pressure, and love in Kapamilya Chat’s “Drink It” Challenge </u></strong></a><strong><u><em></em></u></strong></div><div><br/></div><p>But Gerald still found a way to pursue his passion for basketball while juggling it with acting. Before taking his game to semi-professional leagues, he was already a staple in celebrity exhibition events like the Star Magic All-Star Games, where he made history as its first-ever Basketball MVP (Most Valuable Player) in 2010. He would go on to collect the most MVP awards than any other player in the event’s history, including two impressive multi-year streaks, before eventually leveling up into a playing coach.</p><p>As he gears up to lead Team Star Magic into their first international matchup against Team GMMTV Thailand happening this August 23 at the Mall of Asia Arena, let’s revisit the hunk&#x27;s All-Star Games run through the years.</p><p>At the inaugural season in 2010, back when the event was still called the Star Magic Sports Festival, Gerald immediately showcased his leadership as captain of the Blue Team. He emerged as the game’s top scorer and steered his squad to the first-ever championship after two quarters of play. Of course, he capped off the event as MVP.</p><p>Gerald kept his stellar hardcourt streak going until he completed an MVP three-peat in 2013. That year, he further flexed his athletic prowess by being named Fastest Athlete and 3-Point King after topping the three-point shootout at halftime.</p><p>In 2015, Gerald led the oath of sportsmanship and bagged yet another accolade as Overall Best Male Athlete. The following year, 2016, he took on an even bigger responsibility as he led his squad into a special exhibition game against an outside team, eventually adding another MVP plum to his growing collection.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/BFsY6ZTLXH7/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=905&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A10860973.699999928%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="880" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Come 2017, Gerald finally met his match in Daniel Padilla, who kept him on his toes throughout the main basketball event. Still, his side managed to eke out a thrilling 93-90 victory in a battle that went down to the wire. Gerald turned in a monster 42-point performance, enough to seal his place as the MVP.</p><p>Gerald&#x27;s game only grew more lethal with time. By 2018, he had already made his semi-pro debut in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), and that experience certainly showed in his rematch against Daniel’s team. Unlike their nail-biter the previous year, Gerald and the Blue Team steamrolled their rivals with a massive 113-75 blowout, while Gerald tallied 24 points and eight rebounds to finish again as MVP.</p><p>The 2019 season marked the beginning of Team Star Magic and Team “It’s Showtime’s” basketball rivalry. Gerald carried the Star Magic banner in their first face-off, which stretched into a wild double overtime battle as both camps refused to lay down. This time around, he joined forces with his former on-court nemesis, Daniel, as their team crushed and defeated the guest challengers. The win also capped Gerald’s second MVP streak, having claimed the honor for four straight years from 2016 to 2019</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="916" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9b5K8j8HC9s" title="The All Star Games 2019 MVP is Gerald Anderson | All Star Games 2019" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>The Star Magic All-Star Games made its comeback in 2022 after a two-year pandemic hiatus, but one familiar powerhouse was missing from the lineup. Gerald skipped this one as his basketball career got even bigger and busier, with the actor competing in regional and professional tournaments, including the PSL Pro Division Second Conference, a stint with the General Santos team in the MPBL, and local 3x3 qualifying tournaments. His absence was certainly felt. Without their longtime ace in the fold, Star Magic surrendered the championship Gerald and company had won in the previous edition to Team It’s Showtime.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/starmagic/articles-videos/check-out-the-best-moments-at-the-star-magic-all-star-games-2022-17352" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>WATCH: The best moments at the Star Magic All-Star Games 2022</u></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>And then, the crowd had every reason to go wild in 2023 because Star Magic came back loaded for its rematch with Team It’s Showtime and our resident baller Gerald was finally back. He and Daniel reunited on the floor, while Gerald also leveled up into the role of playing assistant coach under PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) champ and national team Gilas Pilipinas mainstay LA Tenorio. The game turned into a scorching back-and-forth affair, with Team It&#x27;s Showtime barely escaping with a three-point win. Gerald may not have gotten the win, but he still walked away as part of the Mythical 5.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/starmagic/articles-photos/all-the-happenings-at-the-star-magic-all-star-games-2023-16259" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>IN PHOTOS: All the happenings at the Star Magic All-Star Games 2023</u></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="916" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/039LMfi0IRg" title="Team Star Magic vs. Team It&#x27;s Showtime Awarding | Basketball | Star Magic All-Star Games 2023" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>Now, this is the Gerald we know—an athlete who refuses to go down without a fight. As team captain in 2024, he helped Star Magic foil Team It’s Showtime’s three-peat championship bid, putting up nine points, six assists, and three rebounds despite apparently hurting his ankle late in the opening frame. Talk about playing through the pain!</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/starmagic/articles-photos/all-the-fun-thrilling-happenings-at-the-star-magic-all-star-games-2024-16549" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>LOOK: All the fun, thrilling happenings at the Star Magic All-Star Games 2024</u></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="916" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FOKN2B5vnY0" title="Team Star Magic vs Team It&#x27;s Showtime | Parade of Players | Star Magic All-Star Games 2024" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="916" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZTQ36FayWxg" title="Team Star Magic vs Team It&#x27;s Showtime | 4th QTR | Star Magic All-Star Games 2024" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>After years of proving his basketball IQ on the floor, Gerald took his know-how to the sidelines in 2025, taking over as Team Star Magic&#x27;s head coach for the first time, going up against guest challengers Team Payaman’s Anbilibabol led by Cong Velasquez, a.k.a. Cong TV. Coach Gerald clearly knew how to call the shots. He understood his players’ strengths and weaknesses, knew when to send the right man in, and made sure everyone played their part. His coaching instincts paid off as the boys hoisted the championship trophy under his guidance.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2025/7/22/three-pointer-shots-that-wowed-the-crowd-at-star-magic-all-star-games-2025-basketball-event-0931" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>WATCH: Buckets from downtown! Three-pointer shots that wowed the crowd at Star Magic All-Star Games 2025 Basketball event</u></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="916" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/svtDXo6ycGQ" title="Team Payaman and Shooting Stars exchange savage &#x27;trash talk&#x27; | Star Magic All-Star Games 2025" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>From MVP to captain, playing coach, and head coach, Gerald&#x27;s different athletic roles have definitely made his game and basketball IQ sharper.</p><p>But beyond the hardware and hard-earned experience, basketball has always been his heart and soul. And he’s more than ready to bring all that fire and know-how as Team Star Magic’s playing coach in their next big fight against a squad of Thai actors at the Star Magic All-Star Games 2026 this Sunday.</p><div> </div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2026/8/20/battle-tested-team-star-magic-s-guest-opponents-through-the-years-before-gmmtv-thailand-0130" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>READ: Battle-tested! Team Star Magic’s guest opponents through the years before GMMTV Thailand</u></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Bringing further depth to the Philippine side are Emilio Daez, JM Ibarra, Ronnie Alonte, River Joseph, JV Kapunan, Tristan Ramirez, Argel Saycon, Jeremiah Lisbo, Ashton Salvador, and Elyson De Dios.</p><p>These Star Magic players regularly put in the training, conditioning, and court work to sharpen their game. And several have the All-Star Games credentials to back it up. JV, Ronnie, Argel, and Ashton have all been crowned MVP in previous editions, while River and Elyson have consistently earned their places among the Mythical 5. JM, meanwhile, was last season&#x27;s Rookie of the Year.</p><p>Put together, Team Star Magic has a battle-tested core with proven scorers who know how to respond when the pressure climbs. And with MVP and Coach Gerald bringing years of big-game experience, the boys have a seasoned hand to steer them through the toughest stretches.</p><p>Stream the “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2026/8/14/stream-live-action-of-star-magic-all-star-games-2026-via-abs-cbn-youtube-membership-iwant-tickets-1001" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>SEAbling Showdown: Star Magic All-Star Games 2026</u></strong></a>” live via ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube Membership and iWant Tickets this August 23 at 1 PM for only ₱79.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>More on this story:</strong></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2026/8/20/battle-tested-team-star-magic-s-guest-opponents-through-the-years-before-gmmtv-thailand-0130" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>Battle-tested! Team Star Magic’s guest opponents through the years before GMMTV Thailand</u></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2026/8/22/star-magic-shooting-stars-get-ready-with-their-must-haves-for-all-star-games-2026-0030" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>Star Magic Shooting Stars get ready with their must-haves for All-Star Games 2026</u></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2026/8/14/stream-live-action-of-star-magic-all-star-games-2026-via-abs-cbn-youtube-membership-iwant-tickets-1001" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>Stream live action of Star Magic All-Star Games 2026 via ABS-CBN YouTube membership, iWant tickets</u></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2026/8/21/5-peat-mvp-analain-salvador-s-volleyball-supremacy-at-the-star-magic-all-star-games-0127" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>5-Peat MVP! Analain Salvador’s volleyball supremacy at the Star Magic All-Star Games</u></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2025/7/23/behind-the-action-off-court-highlights-from-the-star-magic-all-star-games-2025-1258" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>Behind the Action: Off-court highlights from the Star Magic All-Star Games 2025</u></strong></a></div>

<p>Still in the game! Gerald Anderson’s journey from MVP baller to playing coach at Star Magic All-Star Games.</p>

Still in the game! Gerald Anderson’s journey from MVP baller to playing coach at Star Magic All-Star Games.