CITY OF PASSI - PBA stars showcase their skills in dunking, three-point shooting and hurdling obstacles under time pressure Friday in the Skills Challenge program kicking off the 2023 PBA All Star Weekend here.
High-fliers David Murrell of Converge, Tyrus Hill of Blackwater, Brandon Ganuelas Rosser of NLEX and Chris Lalata of Phoenix look to follow in the footsteps of former sultans of slam Rey Guevarra and KG Canaleta as they duke it out in the Slam Dunk Contest.
Crowd favorite Jamie Malonzo of Barangay Ginebra has pulled out of the competition due to a painful shoulder, although he vowed to play in the All Star Game on Sunday and go for a jam there.
But another known dunker, Phoenix's Encho Serrano, may still join the competitors at the last minute.
According to PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, Serrano has expressed his intention to participate in the rim-rattling joust despite ankle issues. Marcial said the league gave Serrano until Friday to assess whether he's truly good to go.
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Equally exciting is the Three-Point Shootout featuring the top pistoleros of each team.
Readying their guns are Meralco's Aaron Black, NLEX's Kevin Alas, Phoenix's Tyler Tio, Ginebra's Jeremiah Gray, Rain or Shine's Gian Mamuyac, San Miguel Beer's Marcio Lassiter, Blackwater's RK Ilagan, Magnolia's Paul Lee, NorthPort's Arvin Tolentino, Converge's Jerrick Balanza, TnT's RR Pogoy, and Terrafirma's Juami Tiongson.
In the Obstacle Challenge, Beau Belga of Rain or Shine seeks to pick up from where he left off in the last pre-pandemic contest in 2019 as he guns for three consecutive titles here.
Out to challenge Belga for the honors are NorthPort's JM Calma, Blackwater's Ato Ular, Converge's Justin Arana, Terrafirma's Joseph Gabayni, Magnolia's James Laput, TnT's Dave Marcelo, Phoenix's Larry Muyang, Ginebra's Christian Standhardinger, NLEX's Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, San Miguel Beer's Jeepy Faundo and Meralco's Raymond Almazan. (OL)
