CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur — The North All-Stars kept its mastery of the South by way of a 147-142 decision in a competitive PBA Season 50 All-Star Game before an appreciative crowd at the Candon City Arena here, Sunday night.
Justin Arana powered the decisive run that put them ahead for good from down 131-125 early in the fourth quarter, before Japeth Aguilar threw down a two-handed, three-point dunk for the dagger with 24.6 seconds left to play.
The Ginebra big would go on to win All-Star Game MVP honors after helping the North extend its winning streak against the South for six games by firing 29 points, including 12 in the opening period–highlighted by a number of jams.
The said streak began in 2010 in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, when the North escaped with the 133-130 result, with Gabe Norwood named as MVP.
“Enjoy lang talaga,” said Aguilar, who’s now won his first ASG MVP award after sharing his previous two with Arwind Santos (2019) and Robert Boiick (2024). “Nag-enjoy lang talaga, both North and South. Bihira lang ‘to eh.”
(C) PBA Images
San Miguel’s CJ Perez top-scored for Team North with a game-high 32 points, including three of the team’s made shots from the four-point line.
Juan Gomez de Liano flirted with a triple-double in his All-Star Game debut as the Converge PG finished with 23 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists.
Another first-timer, Adrian Nocum, made 22 points as the Rain or Shine guard brought his high-flying act with him–much of course to the fans’ delight.
Arana finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds as the FiberXers star buckled down to work in the final period, proving to be the stabilizing presence Solid North needed in the midst of a furious fightback by their counterparts.
He scored six straight to spearhead an 11-0 run toward a 136-131 lead with 4:37 remaining, although Team South was able to flip things around not long after by snatching the upper hand once more, 142-140, behind RJ Abarrientos.
But Arana was there to the rescue, tying things up before putting themselves up permanently with a cleanup to make it a 144-142 count with 1:10 left.
And then came Aguilar with the big throwdown, effectively sealing the deal that enabled North to protect its territory, with the ASG being in Ilocos Sur.
“Kailangan din namin manalo para hindi sayang ‘yung punta rito,” said Arana, who hails from Daet, Camarines Norte. “At para ma-enjoy din ng fans.”
(C) PBA Images
Alec Stockton led the Solid South with 29 points, four rebounds, and six assists. Abarrientos made 26 points and nine rebounds, with Calvin Oftana tallying 23.
All-Star newbie Caelan Tiongson contributed 17 points. His RoS teammate Santi Santillan and Bolick had 14 and 13, respectively, with June Mar Fajardo chipping in only 11 points although he hauled down 20 of their 55 rebounds.
With the victory, the Solid North of Coach Leo Austria took home a total of Php 250,000, and shared the Php 125,000 prize money with their South foes as their traditional pre-game dance contest was declared a draw by the Board.
The Scores:
North (147) — Perez 32, Aguilar 29, Gomez de Liano 23, Nocum 22, Arana 16, Baltazar 9, Trollano 8, Holt 6, Mamuyac 2, Newsome 0, Cansino 0.
South (142) –– Stockton 29, Abarrientos 26, Oftana 23, Tiongson 17, Santillan 14, Bolick 13, Fajardo 11, Nambatac 5, Bahio 4.
Quarterscores: 50-36, 79-72, 118-121, 147-142.
