Tyrus Hill dunks over Jamie Malonzo during the PBA All-Star Slam Dunk contest. –PBA IMAGES
PASSI CITY — David Murrell may have won the PBA Slam Dunk contest, but some would say Tyrus Hill won the night.
Hill’s dunk over Jamie Malonzo will probably be the one fans inside the City of Passi Arena here will remember even if the Blackwater rookie had to watch Murrell take the title and cash prize of P30,000.
It took a lot of convincing before Malonzo agreed to stand at the no-charge zone and set up the Blackwater rookie’s leap over the popular Barangay Ginebra cager.
“He was scared at first,” Hill said. “But I told him ‘I’ll just jump over you. Don’t push off and like be safe. I’ll just jump over you.’
“So I had the momentum and just jumped over. We’re all just shocked. Got a 50 so it’s all good,” added Hill.
Not even the perfect score from the judges that included PBA legends Allan Caidic and former dunk participant Noli Locsin could prevent Murrell from taking the event.
Hill brings out Jamie Malonzo, tomahawks all over the Ginebra star. A perfect 50! @INQUIRERSports @inquirerdotnet #2023PBAPassiAllStars #PBAGameTayoDito pic.twitter.com/0AEr0fIFwF
— Denison Rey Dalupang (@sonrdINQ) March 10, 2023
Murrell scored a total of 92 after his last dunk which was a reverse windmill, edging Hill by one point in the last round no thanks to his first attempt when he failed to put his arms on the rim.
“The dunk before my last one messed me up,” he lamented. “I put my points down, but I thought I had it. We both thought I had it. He beat me by one point so it is what it is.”
Hill had plenty of reasons to be happy with Murrell, his teammate at Converge for the first two conferences of Season 47.
“That dunk was crazy,” Murrell said in the middle of Hill’s interview.