Team South succeeds in first ever MPBL All-Star event

“AllStar Game North vs South #mpblAllStar2019 #LigaNgBawatPilipino” (Photo: Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League/Facebook)

It was Team South that finished the first ever Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) All-Star game triumphant last Saturday, March 2 at the Mall of Asia Arena, as they dominated the Jojo Lastimosa-led Team North 109-84.

The top scorer was Jeff Viernes from the Batangas City Tanduay Athletics, who was initially a wild card pick by Davao Occidental Tigers and Team South head coach Don Dulay. The point guard contributed a total of 19 points, being named Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the end of the night. Gab Banal of the Bacoor Strikers, who was one of the starters for the night, also contributed with a double-double at 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Viernes’ Batangas teammate Jaymo Eguilos and Zamboanga Valientes’ Reed Juntilla both chipped 11. Actor Gerald Anderson, who is regularly a defensive player for the Marikina Shoemasters, also stunned with nine points — six of them being two different buzzer-beaters. 

For the North side, the major contributors were Manila Stars’ Chris Bitoon, San Juan Knights’ Mike Ayonayon, and Quezon City Capitals’ Jay Collado who contributed 11, 10 and 10 points respectively.

In Coach Don’s words about his winning team’s performance, “ I knew these guys. In the locker room, from the beginning of the game, they really want to win. The fire was there, the fight was there. It was just a matter of time when they turned it on. I was expecting a tight game in the end.” He shared that the most difficult part about coaching an All-Star was the rotation, “[There are] 15, all can play. Good thing we were leading big,” the 38-year-old coach added.

As a result of their success, the South team took home a P500,000 cash prize.

Earlier in the night, Bataan Risers’ guard duo Pamboy Raymundo and John Byron Villarias were hailed the two-ball challenge kings, while teammate Gary David ended up on top of the rankings for the three-point shootout. Makati Super Crunch’s David Carlos went home with the Slam Dunk Competition trophy.

MPBL was originally founded by Senator Manny Pacquiao and is headed by Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes.