CALASIAO, Pangasinan – Beau Belga of Rain or Shine successfully defended his Obstacle Challenge crown on Friday in the PBA All-Star Friday at the Calasiao Sports Complex here in Pangasinan.
Belga barely won the crown with a time of 21 seconds, only 0.3 ahead of second-placer Russell Escoto of Columbian to start off the skills challenge of the weekend extravaganza.
Belga reached the final after surviving a blunder after tripping in his second round battle against Bryan Faundo of Meralco, but still won the match-up by clocking 23 seconds.
The Rain or Shine big man beat Kyle Pascual of Magnolia with a time of 17.2 seconds in the first round.
Aside from Belga and Escoto, Yousef Taha of TNT also advanced to the final and timed 26.3 seconds.
Five-time PBA Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel didn't pass thru the second round after losing to Faundo, who timed the fastest among the first round winners with a time of 18.6 seconds.
In the first round of the competitions where the participants must pass through obstacles and show off their passing and shooting skills, Taha beat Nonoy Baclao of Alaska with a time of 32 seconds; Justin Chua of Phoenix Pulse won over Marion Magat of NLEX, 21.3 seconds; Raymar Jose of Blackwater beat Mo Tautuaa of NorthPort, 26.1 seconds; and Escoto won over Prince Caperal of Barangay Ginebra, 24.6 seconds.
Taha beat Magat, 22.3 seconds; and Jose won over Escoto, 32.1 seconds; in the second round.
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