BACOLOD City – Team Japeth and Team Mark settled for a 140-all deadlock in the main event of the 2024 PBA All-Star Weekend last night at the University of St. La Salle Gymnasium here.
Team Japeth was comfortably ahead by double-digits late in the fourth quarter, but Team Mark slowly clawed their way back to tie the score at 140-all on a five-point play by Robert Bolick Jr.
Team Japeth still had an opportunity to win the game but Calvin Oftana misfired his game-winning attempt from inside, while Bolick’s heave from half court was way behind the target.
Bolick finished the game with 13 points, with 10 coming in the fourth, to earn the All-Star MVP award for Team Mark, while Japeth Aguilar earned the nod for Team Japeth after tallying 21 points.
Negrense James Yap, playing for Team Mark, failed to make his presence felt in his hometown after being held scoreless in the lengthy minutes given to him by head coach Jorge Gallent.
On Saturday night, TNT Tropang Giga forward Calvin Oftana took home the Three-Point Shootout (guard edition) after defeating Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots’ Paul Lee in the final round.
The Dumaguete City-native Oftana knocked down a total of 25 points in the championship round, beating Lee, who finished with 20 points, and Bolts guard Chris Newsome of Meralco Bolts, who ended with 15.
Bolts center Raymond Almazan, meanwhile, became the inaugural champion of the Big Men Three-Point Shootout competition after tallying 19 points to beat NLEX’s Dave Marcelo (16), Blackwater’s Christian David (16) and Terrafirma’s Isaac Go (13).
NorthPort Batang Pier’s John Calma emerged victorious in the Obstacle Challenge after completing the final round in 26 seconds, surpassing James Laput of the Hotshots (30 seconds) and Leonard Santillan of Rain or Shine (29 seconds).
Justin Arana of Converge FiberXers, for his part, bagged the Blitz Game Most Valuable Player award after finishing with 36 points in Team Greats’ 142-133 domination over Team Stalwarts./PN
BOX SCORE:
TEAM JAPETH 140 – Pogoy 25, Lassiter 24, Aguilar 21, Malonzo 17, Tolentino 13, Romeo 11, Lee 9, Newsome 7, Oftana 7, Trollano 2, Pringle 2, Dionisio 2, Ahanmisi 0.
TEAM MARK 140 – Perez 39, Barroca 20, Abueva 18, Fajardo 17, Rivero 15, Bolick 13, Perkins 9, Tiongson 3, Jalalon 2, Hodge 2, Sangalang 2, Norwood 0, Castro 0, Yap 0, Pinto 0.
Quarterscores: 46-20, 79-68, 111-104, 140-140.
