Filoteo, Casso to coach TABC All-Star squads

Edinburg High's Joe Filoteo will join Edcouch-Elsa's Robert Capello this weekend as the only Rio Grande Valley boys coaches to lead a Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All-Star squad.

Filoteo will coach the Class 5A/4A All-Star blue team at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Trinity University Sports Arena in San Antonio. He'll be joined by McAllen High girls coach Teresa Casso, who will make her TABC All-Star coaching debut with the 5A/4A red team at 4:15 p.m.

"It's got to rank up there with just about the biggest (honor) as far as coaching is concerned," Filoteo said. "To be able to coach the best in your state is really an honor, and of course I'm taking my staff with me. We're all excited about being there."

Capello coached his TABC All-Star team to a 105-97 win in 2000. The only other boys coach to guide a state All-Star squad is Roy Garcia, who coached a Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star team in the mid-1990s.

Filoteo was selected by a state committee of coaches, who took notice of the three-time All-Valley coach of the year's impressive 2007-08 run to the regional semifinals with a school-record 32 wins.

"The season we had this year obviously had an impact (on the selection)," Filoteo said. "Our state ranking, that we were consistent throughout the year, I think they saw that, and then they saw our performance at the regional."

The only RGV player who will participate in this weekend's All-Star festivities is McHi forward Andi Garza.