Visayas rules final PBA All-Star leg

SHOOT THAT BALL. Matthew Wright of the All-Star National Team escapes Junemar Fajardo’s defense and drives to the basket during the final leg of the PBA All-Star Week at the University of San Agustin Gym in Iloilo City on Sunday (May 27, 2018) night. (Photo courtesy of PBA Media Bureau/PNA)

MANILA — No Kiefer Ravena? No problem.

The Visayas All-Stars bucked having to play with only 11 men and trounced the Smart All-Star National Team, 157-141, in the final leg of the PBA All-Star Week at the University of San Agustin Gym in Iloilo City on Sunday night.

With Ravena having to fly back to Manila for an emergency press conference set by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) on Monday, Visayas banked on an unsung hero to lead the team to victory.

Jeff Chan showed he could still put up a stellar performance in an All-Star Game even at age 34 by dropping 29 points with seven rebounds off the bench to lead Visayas, which tore the Smart All-Stars in the final three quarters to get the win. Chan eventually won the All-Star Game MVP honors.

Terrence Romeo, who dropped an All-Star Game record 48 points for the Smart All-Stars in Batangas City on Friday night, made 27 markers for Visayas with five rebounds and six dimes.

Jericho Cruz put up a triple-double of 20 markers, 14 caroms, and 11 assists with two steals, while Junemar Fajardo added a double-double of 14 points and 18 boards with one assist and one block.

Calvin Abueva came up short of matching Romeo’s Friday night explosion as he only had 41 points for the Smart All-Stars, but he grabbed 27 rebounds alongside three dimes, two steals, and one block.