Jeff Viernes, South survive North in tightly contested all-star game
JEFF VIERNES of Batangas City Athletics lifted the South past the North 126-122 in overtime in the MPBL all star game at Mall of Asia Arena past midnight Friday.
Besides making key 3-pointers, Viernes sank all the crucial free throws during the extra 5 minutes, enabling the South to get the win.
Viernes, who finished with 28 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, was named as all-star MVP.
John Wilson of San Juan Knights had the chance to break the 112-112 deadlock in regulation, but he flubbed his 3-point attempt.
In the Executive Game, Makati Super Crunch team owner Paolo Orbeta led the North to a repeat win over the South with an 82-68 victory.
Orbeta tallied 29 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists in the game participated by team owners and executives.
“Always there ang execution namin. Maganda ang naging laro na nakacontribute sa pagkapanalo namin,” Orbeta said after the win, adding that his teammates had been practicing every week.
The game was close in the early stages, but the North executives still had enough fuel to pull away in the end.
Meanwhile, Team PacLOS
quiao emerged victorious in the Celebrity All-Star 3x3, beating Team Kobe 21-15.
Team Pacquiao, made up of Gilas pool member Thirdy Ravena, and national 3x3 members Troy Rike and Alvin Pasaol pocketed the P100,000 prize after downing Team Kobe.
Team Kobe is composed of top 3x3 player Joshua Munzon, UP Fighting Maroons playmaker Juan Gomez de Liaño and celebrity ballers Gerald Anderson and Marco Alcaraz. Kobe Paras called the shots from the sidelines.
Ravena led everyone with 8 points.
In the other 3x3 game, the North All-Stars hacked out a 21-19 win over the South All-Stars.
The North trailed 19-17 when Valenzuela’s Paolo Hubalde connected on back-toback shots from long range to get the win.
Also making up the North were Pasay's Jaypee Belencion, Bulacan's JR Alabanza and Manila's Aris Dionisio. They beat the South’s Leo De Vera of Zamboanga, Nick Demusis of Bacoor, Rodel Vaygan of Mindoro and former pro Jayjay Helterbrand of Imus.
Bulacan’s Lester Alvarez crowned himself the new MPBL 3-point king, beating out Nueva Ecija's James Martinez and Bicol's Jerome Garcia in the final round by scoring 24 points.
Alvarez, who won P50,000, succeeded Bataan’s Gary David, the inaugural champion.
Meanwhile, David Carlos of Makati-Super Crunch successfully defended his Slam Dunk title by scoring a perfect 50.
He sprang over 4 people , including Pacquiao and his son Jimuel, before completing the single-handed dunk to defeat Bacoor’s Nick Demisus and Bicol’s Chris Lalata in the finals.