MANILA – Negrense Mark Nonoy carried the offensive load in the fourth period as Team Hustle cruised to a 94-86 win over Team Heart in the 2019 Chooks-to-Go NBTC All-Star Game on Saturday at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The La Carlota, Negros Occidental native delivered 16 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter for the Team Hustle en route to being named as the Most Outstanding Player in the exhibition match.
With both teams trading leads early in the fourth quarter, Nonoy began his brilliant takeover with a go-ahead triple for an 80-78 lead. After the score was tied at 80, Nonoy unloaded nine straight points for an 89-82 lead.
Nonoy, a former Hua Siong Iloilo standout, said that he was nervous and thrilled to be able to play in the exhibition alongside high school standouts Kai Sotto, Jalen Green and Ilonggo Gerry Abadiano.
“Iba ‘yung feeling kasi dati, pangarap ko lang makalaro sa ganitong arena tapos ngayon, na-award pa ako ng Most Outstanding Player,” Nonoy said. “Malaking tulong para sakin na mag-strive pa sa basketball kasi ito na ‘yung buhay namin.”
Aside from the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers committed-Nonoy, Far Eastern University’s RJ Abarrientos got 13 markers and eight rebounds for the winning Team Hustle squad.
“Guys just keep getting better and better from last year to this year,” said Team Hustle head coach Chris Gavina. “Great seeing the development of our youth. Philippine basketball is in good hands with these kids coming up.”
The week-long festivities will culminate in the 2019 Chooks-to-Go NBTC League National Finals championship game between NU-Manila and LSGH-Mandaluyong, which is being played as of press time last night./PN
