MANILA – Rain or Shine Elasto Painters guard James Yap of is set to face tough opposition when he defends his three-point shootout title during the 2019 PBA All-Star week slated from March 29 to 31 in Calasiao, Pangasinan.
The Escalante City, Negros Occidental native Yap will vie for his third Three-Point Shootout citation against a practically new opposition led by rookie Robert Bolick of NorthPort Batang Pier and former teammate Peter Jun Simon of Magnolia Hotshots.
Also in the roster are Simon Enciso (Alaska Aces), Philip Paniamogan (NLEX Road Warriors), Michael Digregorio (Blackwater Elite), Reden Celda (Columbian Dyip), Baser Amer (Meralco Bolts), Roger Pogoy (TnT Katropa), LA Tenorio (Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings), Marcio Lassiter (San Miguel Beermen), and Matthew Wright (Phoenix Fuel Masters).
The 37-year-old Yap reclaimed the three-point shootout citation last year for the first time since 2009 when he scored 24 in the finals to beat Batang Pier’s Stanley Pringle (23) and Beermen’s Terrence Romeo (16).
Meanwhile, Bacolodnons Siverino Baclao of the Aces and Justin Chua of the Fuel Masters as well as Pontevedra-native Raymar Jose of the Elite are set to compete in the Obstacle Challenge.
Baclao, Chua and Jose will be trying to steal the big man’s version of Obstacle Challenge championship from last year’s titleholder Beau Belga of the Painters.
Also eyeing Belga’s title are Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo, Yousef Taha (Katropa), Moala Tautuaa (Batang Pier), Prince Caperal (Kings), Brian Faundo (Bolts), Russel Escoto (Dyip), and Rafael Reavis (Hotshots).
Fuel Masters’ Rey Guevarra, meanwhile, will also gun for a piece of history as he tries to win a fifth Slam Dunk crown and tie the current record own by Bolts forward Rommel Canaleta.
Four other players stand in the path of the high-flying Phoenix forward including Emil Renz Palma of the Elite, Bolts’ Chris Newsome, Batang Pier’s Lervin Flores and Dyip’s Jaymar Perez./PN
