CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur – Brandon Bates flexed a bit of his unseen skillset as the Meralco bruiser ruled the Obstacle Challenge among big men in the PBA Season 50 All-Star side events Friday at the Candon City Arena here.
One of the league’s more traditional centers bested NLEX’s Brandon Ramirez and James Laput of Magnolia in the final after clocking in 22.86 seconds, showing that he could also do more than just being a reliable shot blocker.
“I was like in a flow state,” he said after snagging the title to become the contest’s new champion after defending titlist JM Calma got dethroned in the first round.
(C) PBA Images
That then turned the Obstacle Challenge into an open race, with Bates, Ramirez, and Laput eventually arranging a showdown for the crown.
Laput was the first to reach the final round after beating Aguilar in the semis. Bates then followed after downing TNT’s Henry Galinato, before Ramirez completed the Final cast by defeating rookie Geo Chiu of Terrafirma.
But then, Bates shone in the Last Dance with a near-perfect showing, with Ramirez’s missed one-hander at the last stage enabling him to win it all.
Also part of the event–which opened All-Star Friday–were Converge main man Justin Arana, Titan Ultra’s Damie Cuntapay, Abu Tratter of Blackwater, Rain or Shine’s Santi Santillan, and Phoenix rising star Kai Ballungay.
#WATCH: BATES MASTERS OBSTACLES 💡
Brandon Bates is the new #PBA50 All-Star Obstacle Challenge for bigs champion#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/KHDQtMhQRT
📹 @justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/29jOodq29Z
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 6, 2026
