MANILA - Filipino fans are just a few days away from witnessing the clash featuring some National Basketball Association (NBA) legends and Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) icons in the 2009 NBA Asia Challenge on Friday.

The NBA Generations squad arrived in Manila on Monday with six-time MVP and six-time champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar headlining the team as assistant coach.

Robert Horry, Vlade Divac, Tim Hardaway and Dominique Wilkins, meantime, will also see hard court action against the PBA All Stars.

Completing the line-up for the NBA Generations NBA Developmental League (D-League) cagers Derrick Dial, Billy Thomas, Lanny Smith, Russell Robinson, Chris Ellis and Marcus Hubbard.

Rory White will serve as head coach while Kevin Taylor is the NBA team's athletic trainer, according to PBA.ph.

The PBA team, which will be coached by Yeng Guiao, will be bannered by Allan Caidic, Kenneth Duremdes, Ronnie Magsanoc, Benjie Paras and Alvin Patrimonio.

Current PBA players Enrico Villanueva, Asi Taulava, Wynne Arboleda, Dondon Hontiveros and Willie Miller will also play against the NBA cagers.

Joining them in the PBA All-Stars line-up are Marc Pingris, Jay-R Reyes, Arwind Santos, Sonny Thoss and Joseph Yeo.

Horry said he is looking forward to play with the locals as he knows that Filipinos are basketball crazy.

"I know that they love basketball... hopefully, those guys playing against us, they can learn something," he said.

"Celebrity" assistant coach Jabbar, for his part, said he hopes the fans will get the entertainment they deserve from the celebrity match.

"I'm just hoping that the game will be competitive and the fans will get their money's worth in terms of competitive game," said Jabbar.

Meanwhile, Wilkins has this to say to Filipinos aspiring to become basketball stars themselves: "Work on the things you don't like to do. Because that's what's gonna help you become more fundamentally sound. The fundamentals is what makes you a good basketball player."

Wilkins was Michael Jordan's closest rival during the NBA Slam Dunk competition in the late 80's.

This year's PBA No. 1 draft pick Japeth Aguilar was supposed to suit up to play with the PBA All-Stars. However, because of his decision not to officially sign up for PBA, he will not join the celebrity competition.

Aguilar refused to sign the P8.7-million contract with the Burger King Whoppers because he decided to play for the country under Smart Gilas Pilipinas.

The 2009 NBA Asia Challenge is set to kick off on Friday, 7:30 p.m., at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City. With a report from TJ Manotoc, ABS-CBN News