CITY OF PASSI – Magnolia’s Paul Lee came out with guns blazing, TNT’s Dave Marcelo showcased his agility and Converge’s David Murrell soared above everyone else.
With a performance to remember, Lee, Marcelo and Murrell reigned supreme in the Skills Challenge program of the PBA All Stars Weekend yesterday at the City of Passi Arena here in Iloilo.
Lee, channeling his Allan Caidic touch from deep, knocked down 28 points in the Three-Point Shootout finale to beat San Miguel rifleman Marcio Lassiter (21) and Terrafirma’s Juami Tiongson (18) for the coveted plum.
The Hotshots pistolero shared an anecdote that took place hours before the contest.
“Nakasabay ko si coach Allan kanina sa breakfast sa hotel, sabi ko pahawak ng kamay para manalo tayo dito,” he said, smiling.
Lee boosted his chances by knocking down all five colored balls in one rack and one of the two four-point money-balls in the final showdown.
Marcelo reigned supreme in the first event, the Big Men’s Obstacle Challenge, where he outclassed the three-peat-seeking Beau Belga of Rain or Shine and Ginebra’s Christian Standhardinger in the championship round.
The 6-foot-5 Tropang Giga hurdled the obstacles in one take and knocked down the 15-foot jumper on second attempt to finish the course in 25.38 seconds. He bested Belga, winner of the last two events before the pandemic, who clocked a 29.80, and Standhardinger, who timed 27.47 ticks.
“Plano ko lang before this contest na hindi gumulong,” Marcelo said in half-jest.
“It’s an amazing experience. Hindi ko ito expected kasi first time ko and hindi ko alam ang mangyayari. I just gave my best.”
FiberXer Murrell edged Blackwater’s Tyrus Hill for the Slam Dunk title, 92-91.
Pushed to a corner by Hill’s perfect 50 off his jump-over-Jamie Malonzo throwdown in the second round, Murrell executed a 360-degree windmill slam in his final dunk.
He earned 46 points from the five judges that included Caidic and Ginebra legend Noli Locsin, enough to beat Hill by a point in the final tally.
Murell had a similar 46 on his 360-degree two-handed slam in the first round, where Hill struggled with a 41 on his weak attempt at a Vince Carter elbow jammer.
Team Greats went on a rampage in the fourth quarter to run away with a 156-138 romp over Team Stalwarts in the young guns game of the PBA All Stars.
Magnolia’s Adrian Wong rifled in 18 of his 29 in the final canto to help seal the deal for the Greats in the high-octane duel among the league’s promising rookies, sophomores and juniors.
Wong was adjudged the game’s MVP.