Paul Lee takes home the PBA All-Star Game MVP award after leading Team Japeth over Team Scottie. PBA IMAGES
ILOILO CITY—Paul Lee capped off a weekend to remember by getting Most Valuable Player honors as Team Japeth prevailed over Team Scottie, 140-136, on Sunday in a competitive PBA All-Star Game held here.
Lee finished with 32 points behind a fiery first half shooting from the special four-point line to highlight the victory of the team captained by the injured Japeth Aguilar before a packed crowd at City of Passi Arena.
Jamie Malonzo, RR Pogoy and Calvin Oftana were also instrumental in securing the win after a spirited comeback in the third quarter allowed Team Scottie to take the lead and set up a back-and-forth affair in the fourth.
Team Scottie had a chance to end the game in a tie with a four-point shot but CJ Perez and Scottie Thompson couldn’t convert their shots, prompting wild celebrations from Team Japeth, which received P150,000.
The night proved to be doubly sweet as Team Japeth was also named the winner of the pregame dance-off to also pocket P150,000, resulting in total earnings of P300,000.
Lee, who made seven four-pointers out of 13 shots, also doubled his earnings after receiving P30,000 as the game’s MVP. The Magnolia guard won the three-point shootout last Friday.
Malonzo had 20 points and 11 rebounds, Pogoy also scored 20, Oftana posted 16 while Chris Newsome fell short of a triple-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists.
Kevin Alas scored 35 points for Team Scottie in a losing cause. Perez had 26 points and eight rebounds while Christian Standhardinger added 22 points and nine rebounds.
Thompson’s squad settled for the consolation prize of P75,000 each for the game and the dance-off.
The Scores:
TEAM JAPETH 140 — Lee 32, Malonzo 20, Pogoy 20, Oftana 16, Newsome 16, Santos 8, Jalalon 8, Mamuyac 7, Pinto 6, Almazan 4, Gray 3, Cabagnot 0.
TEAM SCOTTIE 136 — Alas 35, Perez 26, Standhardinger 22, Abueva 15, Bolick 14, Tolentino 7, Barroca 7, Pringle 4, Castro 4, Yap 2, Thompson 0, Lassiter 0.
Quarters: 37-28, 74-65, 100-104, 140-136.