Meralco Bolts’ guard-forward Rey Guevarra won his third consecutive PBA Slam Dunk Contest championship at the expense of teammate Chris Newsome in a highly-contested finals match-up Friday night in the PBA All-Star Weekend 2016 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
“Mahirap lalo ganun kalaban mo, Chris Newsome,” said Guevarra of his opponent.
Newsome, in the first round. made tribute to Senator Manny Pacquiao by donning the latter’s infamous flame-design boxing shorts and a pair of boxing gloves, which entertained spectators especially after completing a two-hander. Guevarra, meanwhile, did a one-handed windmill. Both players scored 45 to make it into the finals.
Newsome’s routine in the finals acquired the attention of many, juggling three basketballs before throwing one of them for an alley-oop, one-handed slam. His second dunk was from an assist by Barangay Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson off the backboard for a 360 slam. The former Ateneo stalwart earned 46 and a perfect 50, respectively, for a total of 96.
Guevarra’s first dunk in the last round– a between-the-legs on the air slam — earned him 50 points from the judges. His second and final dunk was a one-handed flush over teammates Raymond Almazan and Jericho Cruz, which made him garner 47 points. His total score of 97 was good enough to get away with the 2016 Slam Dunk title by just a point from Newsome.
“It was a good showing,” said Newsome, who’s still gracious even after the loss. “I tried my best, but, I’m glad at least one of the Meralco Bolts was able to bring home the title today.”
RESULTS
First Round:
Franklin Bonifacio
-Double pump reverse = 45
Chris Newsome
-Dunk with boxing gloves = 40
James Forrester
-Dunks failed (Friend help; Alley-oop windmill) = 25
Rey Guevarra
-Front windmill with one-hand assist = 45
Second Round:
Franklin Bonifacio
-Simple two-handed quick drop =35
Chris Newsome
-Cock-back dunk w/ alley-oop from Scottie Thompson = 48
James Forrester
-360 windmill = 49
Rey Guevarra
-Help from Romeo, leap over person for one-hander = 49
Final Round:
Chris Newsome
-Alley-oop from a 3-ball juggle for one-hander = 46
-Alley-oop assist from Scottie Thompson for 360 dunk = 50
Rey Guevarra
-Between-the-legs = 50
-Dunk over Almazan and Cruz = 47
