CANDON CITY – The Rookies and Sophomores beat their older Juniors counterparts, 154-150 on Friday night in their exhibition game as part of the 2026 PBA All-Star Weekend at the Candon City Arena.
Jerom Lastimosa set the tone in the Rookies and Sophomores team's breakaway in the fourth quarter. A lob pass by the Magnolia point guard to Kai Ballungay for a three-point dunk in the final moments put an exclamation point to the win.
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Lastimosa was later named RSJ game MVP after a night that saw the Magnolia guard score 27 points and 10 assists,
The former Adamson Falcons star also steadied the ship after the Juniors came within six, 124-118, completing a four-point play to go with a three-pointer.
Brandon Ramirez added 26 points and 10 rebounds, and Ballungay had 20 points and seven rebounds in the win by the rookies and sophomores. Dalph Panopio chipped in 17 points while Sedrick Barefield added 14 points.
Even Arwind Santos made key contributions for the Rookies and Sophomores as the 2013 PBA MVP had 14 points and eight rebounds.
Ricci Rivero had 30 points, while Schonny Winston had 29 for the Juniors.
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.
Quarters: 32-35; 63-64; 112-105; 154-150.
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