Canaleta reaffirmed his status as the league’s best dunker, beating challengers Jay Washington, Kelly William, Arwind Santos, Ronald Tubid, Aaron Aban and Gabby Espinas as he wowed the local crowd with artistic aerial moves he has perfected since college days.
Having made an All-Star record, the former UE Warrior, however, is no longer interested in competing in the event next year and is now looking forward to playing in the All-Star Game.
"I might be beaten, my clean record would get glitch. Probably, I would try the three-point shootout next time or hopefully I would finally make it to the All-Star Game," said Canaleta.
The Rookies ended the Sophomores’ stranglehold of the Blitz Game, fashioning out a 122-107 rout in the main feature of the All-Star Thursday that lured a mammoth crowd at the seaside gymnasium.
Santos erupted for 31 points with teammates LA Tenorio, JayR Reyes, Mark Andaya, Joseph Yeo, Gabby Espinas and Jireh Ibanes each adding at least 11 as the Freshmen scored a breakthrough triumph over the Sophies in the novelty game introduced in Laoag City in 2005.
Santos, the former FEU star picked No. 2 overall by Air21 in the most recent draft, won the Blitz Game MVP honors.
Coach Art dela Cruz guided the Rookies to a jackrabbit start, and the team never looked back, enjoying a lead as big as 25, 118-93, in the lopsided contest.
Tenorio had eight points and Santos six in a 23-6 start that set the tone of the match early.
Washington scattered 28 points while Canaleta poured in 25, counting four "three-point slams" to pace the losing squad mentored by Jojo Lastimosa.
Curiously, Canaleta and Washington themselves figured in the finale in the slam dunk contest.
The 6-foot-4 Canaleta executed a windmill sidewinder to cap the win. In his first dunk in the finale, he took off just after the free-throw line and soared above a man for a lean-in one-hander.
It turned out another easy win for Canaleta with his chief rivals falling one after another on missed jams.
Williams, looming as a serious threat to Canaleta, failed to make it past the elims as the Sta. Lucia prized Fil-Am failed to convert twice a between-the-legs jam.
"Malaking pressure ang nawala sa akin noong nawala si Kelly," said Canaleta.
"Lack of knowing the rules," said Williams on his sorry defeat.
Washington also had a missed jam and it was practically all over for Canaleta after the first of the two-round finale judged by Samboy Lim, Jojo Lastimosa, Vergel Meneses and Sonny Cabatu.
Canaleta earned a perfect score of 40 points on three of five slams.