Team Greats’ Justin Arana in the PBA All-Star Weekend Blitz Game. –PBA IMAGES
BACOLOD CITY — Team Greats pulled out the necessary stops on Saturday night to beat Team Stalwarts, 142-133, in the PBA All-Star weekend’s Blitz Game featuring the league’s rookie, sophomore and junior players.
Justin Arana of Converge starred all night long for the selection as Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser of TNT scored a putback jam to seal the deal at University of St. La Salle here.
“This is just team effort. We were supporting each other which is why we got the win,” the FiberXers center said in Filipino, after finishing with 36 points, eight rebounds an assist and a steal that powered Team Greats to victory and a P100,000 prize.
Arana, the reigning Rookie of the Year, also took home a P30,000 prize for his performance that also earned him a Most Valuable Player award—a welcome development as his mother club continues to struggle in the PBA Philippine Cup.
The GREATS take home the 🏆#PBABacolodAllStar2024 #PBAAngatAngLaban pic.twitter.com/mV5dMgYxjl
— PBA (@pbaconnect) March 23, 2024
“My team’s struggling but I’m still eager to win. We’re at the bottom (of the standings now) so hopefully, we could finally get a win,” said Arana, hoping the win would finally carry over to 0-5 Converge in the All-Filipino showcase.
Ganuelas-Rosser added 23 points, Jerrick Ahanmisi of Magnolia 21 as Team Greats asserted its mastery of Team Stalwarts.
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Kim Aurin of TNT had 23 points while JM Calma of NorthPort chipped in 22 for the Team Stalwarts, who threatened in the final moments of the contest that serves as a prelude for Sunday’s main event at the same venue.
Joshua Munzon, Christian David, Fran Yu, and Santi Santillan all finished with at least 12 points for the Team Stalwarts.
The scores:
GREATS 142 – Arana 36, Ganuelas-Rosser 23, Ahanmisi 21, Stockton 9, Tuffin 8, Ildefonso 8, Laput 8, Caracut 8, Ilagan 8, Mamuyac 6, Cu 5, Gomez de Liaño 2.
STALWARTS 133 – Aurin 23, Calma 22, Munzon 16, David 15, Yu 12, Santillan 12, Asistio 8, Zaldivar 7, Holt 7, Nocum 6, Amores 5.
Quarterscores: 39-45, 78-73, 109-106, 142-133.