Cabagnot named MVP as North escapes South in All-Star Game

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The North All-Stars are still the king after staving off a furious fightback from the South All-Stars to come away with a 154-151 victory in the 2016 PBA All-Star Game Sunday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Alex Cabagnot was named as the All-Star Game MVP, with a game high 29 points, 11 coming in the payoff period. He also had five rebounds and three assists.

Terrence Romeo also dazzled to the delight of the crowd, drilling four treys to end up with 25 markers, seven boards, and six assists.

Troy Rosario was also spectacular in his All-Star debut, unveiling four rim-rattlers en route to a 21-point night that went with eight boards, while Japeth Aguilar had 21.

Controlling the game from the get-go, the North All-Stars held a 152-143 lead with 2:12 remaining.

But June Mar Fajardo staged a personal 8-0 run to pull the South within one, 152-151, in the final 33.7 seconds.

Rosario, though, had other things in mind as he converted on a tip to push the lead up to three with 5.7 ticks to go.

South coach Leo Austria still mapped out a game-tying play, but Jeff Chan missed the three from the left wing as time ran out.

Fajardo topped the South with 25 points, nine rebounds, two steals, and a block, while RR Garcia got 22 markers, six boards, and three dimes off the bench.

Carlo Lastimosa also had 21 points in his All-Star debut, while Jericho Cruz tallied 20 markers, four rebounds, and four assists.

The South All-Stars won the dance off, taking home the P150,000 cash prize.

The scores:

NORTH ALL-STARS 154 – Cabagnot 29, Romeo 25, Aguilar 21, Rosario 21, Pongris 16, De Ocampo 13, Caguioa 9, Castro 8, Norwood 7, Pringle 3, Lee 2.

SOUTH ALL-STARS 151 – Fajardo 25, Garcia 22, Lastimosa 21, Cruz 20, Devance 17, Yap 13, Chan 12, Barroca 11, Taulava 4, Quinahan 2, Ross 2, Thompson 2.

Quarters: 42-33, 79-73, 117-115, 154-151.