Justin Arana showed the way to lead Team Greats to a 142-133 win over Team Stalwarts in the Philippine Basketball Association All-Star Blitz Game Saturday night at the University of Saint La Salle in Bacolod.
The Converge big man bullied his way inside to tally 36 points and eight rebounds for Team Greats’ second win in a row in the game featuring the league’s top rookies, sophomores and juniors.
Last season’s Rookie of the Year Arana’s performance also bagged him the Most Valuable Player honors and P30,000 cash prize
Team Greats, handled by Patrick Patrosa, received P100,000 for the victory.
Sophomore Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser had 23 points highlighted by a couple of three-point slamdunks while Jerrick Ahanmisi got 21 markers for Team Greats, who took control of the game following a third quarter surge.
Team Stalwarts settled for the consolation P50,000.
TNT rookie Kim Aurin paced Team Stalwarts with 23 markers while Obstacle Challenge champion JM Calma added 22 for the Peter Martin-mentored Team Stalwarts.
Meanwhile, Calvin Oftana dethroned Paul Lee with his steady hands in the three-point shootout for guards.
The TNT sniper racked up 25 points in the final to beat Magnolia’s Lee, who had 20, and Meralco’s Chris Newsome (15).
Oftana, barely made it to the final after scoring 22 in the eliminations, was the last to shoot in the final and already surpassed Lee in the fourth rack.
Raymond Almazan of Meralco, on the other hand, was named the inaugural long-distance shootout for big men champion.
Almazan scored 19 in the final to edge out Christian David of Blackwater and Isaac Go of Terrafirma, who had 15 and 13 markers, respectively, in the final.
