It was a total entertaining basketball bonanza but Team Japeth showed great momentum to beat Team Scottie in the PBA All-Star Game at the City of Passi Arena, 140-136.
Paul Lee steered the wining team after converting 32 points. He was hailed as the PBA All-Star Most Valuable Player. To recall, Lee also won the Three-Point Shootout last Friday, converting seven four-point shots.
Both teams started the game with steady ball rotations and conversions. But Roger Pogoy and Jamie Malonzo came up huge in the fourth quarter to finish with 20 markers apiece, while Chris Newsome and Calvin Oftana contributed 16 points each for Team Japeth.
Team Japeth created separation with consecutive four-point shots from Lee and outside connections from Arwind Santos for a 37-28 lead. Team Scottie turned things around behind Kevin Alas and Jaymar Perez to take a 104-100 edge in the last frame.
Christian Standhardinger and Robert Bolick Jr. also chipped in series of points but Team Japeth rode on the exploits of Malonzo and Pogoy to take a 122-116 advantage.
Calvin Abueva made some changes at the scoreboard after his basket that grabbed the lead back to their team, 125-124.
Unbothered, Malonzo and Pogoy anchored another run for Team Japeth to build a 133-127 lead with under two minutes left. Team Scottie made its last push at 136-138 on an outside connection by Perez but two free throws by Malonzo followed by a stop by Lee on an outside hit by Earl Scottie Thompson sealed the win for Team Japeth.
Thousands of Ilonggos flocked at the arena to witness the All-star games which was halted for three years because of the COVID-19. Passi City Mayor Stephen Palmares and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Undersecretary Jesry Palmares thanked the Ilonggo fans, PBA players and commissioners for the opportunity to host one of the most prestigious basketball events in the country.IMT Sports
