North All-Stars trump South in NBTC

Kevin Baranco receives his ASG MVP Award from SM-NBTC Tournament Commissioner Ato Badolato. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The North All-Stars on Thursday turned back the South All-Stars, 94-89, in a matchup of the brightest high-schoolers in the country in the National Basketball Training Center at Mall of Asia Arena.

Encho Serrano, UAAP MVP Juan Gomez de Liaño, and NCAA MVP Troy Mallilin combined for 49 points to lead the North All-Stars.

The North All-Stars had a firm stranglehold on its southern counterparts with a 53-36 lead at the end of the first half but SJ Belangel and Sherwin Concepcion sparked the South All-Stars’ comeback to close the gap at the end of the third quarter 72-67.

Ron Junsay then took over for the South All-Stars to tie the game at 78-78 with five minutes left in the game.

The MVP duo, however, would weather the storm as Gomez de Liaño and Mallilin scored 11 unanswered points to give the North All-Stars an 89-78 lead.

Serrano’s 17-point and seven-rebound line would earn him the MVP award in the spectacle.

“We had more talent, but credit to the other team, they played hard,” said North head coach Jong Uichico.