PBA All Star Highlights
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 23 Apr 2010
Macapagal crowns himself new PBA 3-point kingpin
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY -- Unheralded Mark Macapagal showed the way to his more illustrious rivals by crowning himself the new three-point shooting champion yesterday raising the curtains in the three-day PBAL -All Star Weekend at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum here.
Showing the accuracy that made him once the King of San Sebastian College Stags in the NCAA, the 30-year-old native of San Simon town in Pampanga, who could not even earn a regular starting role in the Coca Cola Tigers roster, torched the hoops with 13 points in edging Jeff Chan of Rain or Shine and Yousif Aljamal of Barako Coffee for the crown last year?s kingpin James Yap of B-Meg failed to defend.
Macapagal, who admitted to be a distant relative of President Macapagal-Arroyo, a Pampanguena from Lubao town ended up second to Aljamal in the 10-man elimination that also included two-time winner Jimmy Alapag of Talk ?N Text and another one-time champion Renren Ritualo, now of air 21, among others.
Aljamal though wound up third with measly 11 points behind the 12 points of Chan. who attempted first in the three-man finals and actually sank his first three balls but was stopped after missing his fourth due to technical problems.
The Elasto Painters triggerman apparently lost and failed to regain his rhythm, settling instead for second.
Macapagal, who spent the first four years of a six-year pro career with Barangay Ginebra, thus enriched himself by P20,000 for winning the contest, one of six side events of the annual PBA affair being hosted for the first time by Puerto Princesa.
The day proved to be uneventful for the B-meg Derby Aces and, for that matter, for former University of the East Warriors after the fleet-footed Paul Artadi followed Yap?s fate in losing, too, the challenge competition he, likewise, won last year in Davao City.
Like his teammates, who finished last in the three-point shootout with seven points, Artadi, likewise, found himself at the dormant of the 10-man field in his event.
Jonas Villanueva of San Miguel Beer marched triumphantly as the new challenge champ surviving the challenge of former winner Willie Miller of Alaska Milk and Ronjay Buenafe of Air 21.
Two more side events were scheduled for the day with Gabe Norwood, also of Rain or Shine defending his slam-dunk title against a tough field, including three-time winner KG Canaleta of B-Meg at press time.
The day?s main event was the battle between the Sophomores and the Rookies, scheduled late evening. The main feature of the three-day classic is the encounter between the North and south Starts set tomorrow.
The best and the finest shooters, slammers and buzzer-beaters in Asia?s and the country?s first professional league strut their wares when the annual PBA All-Star Weekend visits this scenic capital of the MIMAROPA Region.
Highlight of the three-day celebration, a first in the city and the region, will be the battle of the South and North Selections, the main composition of both was culled from the votes of the basketball fans themselves, scheduled on the final day Sunday at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum.
That classic encounter, a reversion of an old practice pitting a team from the Visayas and Mindanao against their counterparts from Luzon, will be preceded by similarly interesting side events scheduled today featuring a game between the Rookies and the Sophomores, also at the 10,000-seat city arena.
Coached by B-Meg assistant mentor George Gallent, the Rookies ? Marcy Arellano of the Painters, Mike Burtscher of the Aces, Jervy Cruz, also of Rain or Shine, Ronnie Matias of Air 21, Ogie Menor of Barako Coffee, Chris Ross of Coca Cola, Cris Timberlake of Sta. Lucia and Josh Urbiztondo of Sta. Lucia ? will try to show all and sundry how far they had improved against their second year counterparts.
The Sophomores, handled by Luigi Trillo, one of Tim Cone?s assistants at Alaska, are made ujp of Beau Belga of Air 21, Mark Borfboran of the Aces, Jason Castro of Talk ?N Text, Jeff Chan of Rain or Shine, Rob Reyes of Barako, Jared Dilliger, also of T?NT, Larry Rodriguez of Coca Cola and Tester Mark Yee.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Raising the Game: Jean Henri Lhuillier’s Unmatched Impact on Philippine Tennis
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 04 Jul 2025GM Eugene Torre to grace the Asenso Ozamis Open Chess Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 04 Jul 2025The Second Rise of Jesse Espinas
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 04 Jul 2025Boxing Golden Age Comparison - Philippines and Japan
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 04 Jul 2025Kittipong, Magdalena, Kim, Kritiphak Claim Wins in Brico Santig's Show in Bangkok
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 04 Jul 2025Kremlev, Crawford, Fury Launch IBA's Golden Era of International Boxing
Fri, 04 Jul 2025International Master Angelo Young stays on course for GM norm
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 04 Jul 2025Robby Gonzales and Yoseline Perez Progress to Semifinals at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
Fri, 04 Jul 2025Fireworks Ahead: Magsayo vs Mata in Prelims of Pacquiao vs Barrios
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 03 Jul 2025Japan's Boxing Golden Age Remains Limited to the Lower Weights
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 03 Jul 2025No issues with fight ref
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 03 Jul 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Grand Muay Thai event in Verona
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Thu, 03 Jul 2025Morelle McCane and Rene Camacho Advance to Quarterfinals of World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
Thu, 03 Jul 20253 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
Thu, 03 Jul 2025ESPN Original Series The Fight Life Returns for Season Two on July 7
Wed, 02 Jul 2025