Newsome to defend All-Star slam dunk crown

A former champion along with the 2017 NCAA titleholder are out to give reigning king Chris Newsome of Meralco a run for his money in the slam dunk contest of the upcoming PBAAll-Star week.

Rey Guevarra of Phoenix and rookie Lervin Flores of GlobalPort are part of the eightman cast out to challenge Newsome for his title in one of the featured side events of the mid-season festivities.

Until Newsome won last season’s edition, Guevarra held the throne three straight years from 2014 to 2016. He also competed in the contest a year ago, but only managed to place third as Newsome and James Forrester went mano-a-mano in the finals held at the Lucena Convention Center.

Flores, meanwhile, ruled the NCAA slam dunk last year while playing for Arellano University, beating Renato Ular and Justine Gutang for the title. Others included in the slam dunk competition are Matt Ganuelas Rosser (San Miguel), Marion Magat (Alaska), Jackson Corpuz (Columbian Dyip) and Renz Palma (Blackwater).

Newsome, for his part,, is out to make history as he bids to become only the fifth player to win the slam dunk crown twice after Meralco teammate KG Canaleta (five), Guevarra (three), TNT Katropa’s Kelly Williams (two) and PBA great Vergel Meneses (two), who was the inaugural winner in 1992 while still donning the Presto jersey.

This year’s All-Star side events will be held in Batangas City during the second phase of the annual spectacle on May 25 pitting the national men’s team against the PBA Luzon selection. —

Philstar.com