BACOLOD – Justin Arana towed Team Greats in the fourth quarter for a 142-133 win over Team Stalwarts in the PBA All-Star at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum on Saturday.
The Converge big man lifted Team Greats with key lay-ups to create a fourth-quarter lead big enough to claim the victory.
Arana later captured the RSJ (Rookies, Sophomores, Juniors) MVP after finishing with 36 points, and eight rebounds. The individual award comes as his mother team remains winless in the Philippine Cup.
Arana began to work after a 109-109 tie, scoring 10 points in the final quarter that enabled Team Greats to pull away.
He also turned the tide for Team Greats when he scored 10 points after they trailed, 45-39, at the end of the first quarter.
It was Team Greats’ second consecutive win after beating Team Stalwarts, 158-138, in Passi, Iloilo. Ironically, Arana was on the losing end of that game while playing for Team Stalwarts.
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser had 23 points including a follow-up dunk, worth three points in the All-Star Game, with 33.1 seconds left that enabled Team Greats to weather the storm and settle the final score after their lead went down to 137-133.
Jerrick Ahanmisi contributed 21 points for Team Greats.
Kim Aurin led Team Stalwarts with 23 points, while JM Calma, who earlier in the day captured the Obstacle Challenge, had 22 points for Team Stalwarts.
The scores:
Team Greats 142 – Arana 36, Ganuelas-Rosser 23, Ahanmisi 21, Stockton 9, Tuffin 8, Ildefonso 8, Laput 8, Caracut 8, Ilagan 8, Mamuyac 6, Cu 5, Gomez de Liano 2.
Team Stalwarts 133 – Aurin 33, Calma 22, Munzon 16, David 15, Yu 12, Santillan 12, Asistio 8, Zaldivar 7, Holt 7, Nocum 6, Amores 5.
Quarters: 39-45; 78-73; 109-106; 142-133.
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