PBA All-Star Skills Challenge gets going

Photo by Nuki Sabio, PBA

BORACAY, Aklan—It could be more challenging with Nino “KG” Canaleta around.
The four-time slam dunk king has decided to skip the highlight event of the PBA All-Star Skills Challenge, throwing this year’s derby into a mad scramble among former champions Gabe Norwood of Rain Or Shine, Talk ‘N Text’s Kelly Williams and five other high leapers.
Norwood said the aerial showdown should be equally thrilling with Williams, Ronald Tubid and Ginebra teammate JC Intal, San Miguel Beer’s Jay Washington and rookies Elmer Espiritu of Alaska and Rey Guevarra of SMB already proving their mettle in the past.
“It should be a good show since there are some new guys,” said Norwood, who, as a rookie, captured the 2009 crown and foiled Canaleta’s bid for a fourth slam plum. “I’ve been against Elmer and Rey in the amateurs, and I know Kelly is a power dunker.”
Canaleta reclaimed the title last year at the expense of the 6-foot-7 Williams, the 2008 champion when the Derby Ace high flyer took a break. Norwood failed to advance to the finals last year.
“I’ll just try to be creative and hope to come up with something good,” said Norwood. “My focus is to get to the finals first. Then, we’ll see.”
Also expected to excite the crowd is Intal, who ended up empty-handed in the slam dunk last year. Intal is a former college dunk champion like Guevarra and Espiritu.
In the other skills challenge, Powerade’s Mark Macapagal will try to prove his three-point shootout win last year was no fluke, while Jonas Villanueva of Derby Ace seeks a repeat victory in the obstacle challenge of the weekend event supported by Smart, Accel, Molten, Islander, Rain Or Shine and Powerade.
Former three-point champions James Yap of Derby Ace, TNT’s Jimmy Alapag and Air21’s Dondon Hontiveros are also looking to duplicate their victories.
Villanueva faces stiff competition in the obstacle challenge with Alapag, Buenafe, Alex Cabagnot of SMB, Ginebra’s Willie Miller, Alaska’s LA Tenorio, Chris Ross of Meralco, Air21’s Josh Urbiztondo and Powerade’s Sean Anthony in the roster of entries.
The Rookies versus Sophomores Blitz Game takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. after the skills challenge at the Boracay Convention Center, which plays host to the North-South All-Star game on Sunday.
The PBA Hala Bola All-Star week is backed by Coca-Cola, Meralco, Alta Vista Boracay, TNT, Puma and Maynilad.