Mindanao side turns back Gilas in PBA All-Star first leg

Mindanao All-Stars pulled away in the fourth quarter and blasted the Smart PBA squad, 144-130, in the first leg of the 2018 PBA All-Star Wednesday at Davao del Sur Complex.

From just a three-point lead at the start of the payoff period, the Tim Cone-coached roster found an opening and quickly turned the game into a rout.

Carlo Lastimosa and Baser Amer had three straight triples to give the Mindanao side a 117-103 lead with under 10 minutes left and spark the breakaway.

Amer led the Mindanao All-Stars with 22 points, Marc Barroca added 20 points while Lastimosa had 16.

The Meralco star guard was named the MVP of the Mindanao leg.

Gilas Pilipinas-led squad, meanwhile, banked on their twin towers with June Mar Fajardo powering his way to 34 points while Japeth Aguilar contributed 25.

Only nine players suited up for the PBA Smart All-Stars with Troy Rosario and RR Pogoy skipping the event to focus on the Fiba 3×3 preparations. Celest Flores-Colina