MANILA – Beau Belga and Rey Guevarra kept the obstacle challenge and slam dunk titles while Peter June Simon emerged as the new three-point shootout king in the 2019 PBA All-Star Weekend last night at the Calasiao Sports Complex in Pangasinan.
Belga of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters overcame an early blunder in the competition before taking his second straight title with a 21.0 seconds performance in the finals, beating Columbian Dyip’s Russel Escoto (21.3).
Belga was nearly dethroned in the opening round by Meralco Bolts’ Bryan Faundo after he slipped badly on the floor while making a chest pass. He took home cash prize of P30,000.
“Natapakan ko ‘yung marker. Akala ko talo na ‘ko pero nakita ko si Brian ‘di nagawa ‘yung pasa,” said Belga. “Ano lang siguro, experience. Matagal na ako sa liga. Hindi porke’t mataba ka, mabagal ka.”
Phoenix Fuel Masters’ Guevarra, meanwhile, annexed a record-tying fifth straight Slam Dunk title after defeating Blackwater Elite’s Emil Renz Palma in the championship round.
Guevarra, who tied Meralco Bolts’ Rommel Nino Canaleta’s record, sealed the championship with a one-handed dunk while being surrounded by Fuel Masters teammates after seeing Palma missed on his final dunk.
Simon of the Hotshots, on the other hand, clinched the Three-Point Shootout crown after finishing with 17 points in the final round beating NorthPort Batang Pier’s Robert Bolick (16) and NLEX Road Warriors’ Philip Paniamogan (14).
Simon and Paniamogan were scorching in the elimination round as they finished with 20 points each, while Bolick managed 17. Last year’s champion James Yap failed to defend the crown after finishing with just 12 points./PN
