CANDON City – The Rookies/Sophomores ran their Juniors counterpart to the ground, 154-150, to kick off the PBA ArenaPlus All-Star weekend on Friday night at the Candon City Arena.
Jerom Lastimosa showed the way for the winning team, presiding over a fourth quarter attack that allowed the Rookies/Sophomores to finally pull away for good.
Lastimosa, the sophomore guard of Magnolia, finished with a double-double of 27 points and 10 assists, including the game’s highlight-reel play when he lobbed the ball to the airborne Kai Balunggay for an emphatic two-handed slam.
The guard out of Adamson was later named MVP of the appetizer game to Sunday’s All-Star main event. Lastimosa was awarded P50,000 cash prize.
“Sobrang happy ako kasi kahit hindi naman kami teammates, selection lang kami, pero kahit papaano, yung laro namin as team talaga,” said Lastimosa later.
Brandon Ramirez also had a double-double of 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Ballungay added 20 and seven rebounds for the winning squad, which went home with a total of P250,000 prize moneyled the, including P50,000 for finishing runner up in the dance contest.
Former MVP Arwind Santos likewise showed he can still keep pace with the younger players as he helped the Rookies/Sophomores steadied the ship in the final period to finish with 14 points and eight rebounds.
Ricci Rivero led the Juniors with 30 points, while Schonny Winston added 29.
The Juniors’ team topped the dancefest worth P75,000 and took home a total of P175,000 in prize money.(RG)
The scores
Rookies Sophomores (154) — Lastimosa 27, Ramirez 26, Ballungay 20, Panopio 17, Barefield 14, Santos 14, Torres 9, Estil 8, Bravo 8, C. Miller 4, W. Miller 4, Malonzo 3, Lemetti 0.
Juniors (150) – Rivero 30, Winston 29, Tuffin 23, Garcia 15, Caralipio 9, Aurin 8, Cu 7, Bates 7, Pingris 6, Flores 5, Galinato 4, Fajardo 4, Yu 3, De Ocampo 0.
Quarterscores: 32-35; 63-64; 112-105; 154-150.
