Magnolia Hotshots veteran PJ Simon has been hailed the new king of rainbow country, as he won the Three-Point Shootout of the 2019 PBA All-Star Weekend, Friday at the Calasiao Sports Complex in Pangasinan.
Simon earned 17 points in the final round to defeat NLEX Road Warriors guard Philip Paniamogan and NorthPort Batang Pier rookie Robert Bolick, who actually had a chance to take the throne had his final money ball gone in.
The 38-year-old guard dethroned his former teammate and good pal James Yap, who was far from his form last year – where he scored 24 points in both the qualifying round and in the final – as he only managed to rack up 12 markers.
“‘Di ko talaga inexpect. Just wanna thank God for putting my name on top. Kahit medyo nasa twilight na ako ng career ko, nabigyan pa rin ako opportunity,” said Simon, the 43rd overall pick of the Sta. Lucia Realtors in the 2001 Draft.
Simon will go home with P 30,000.
Also part of the shootout were RR Pogoy of TNT KaTropa, Alaska Aces’ Simon Enciso, Phoenix Pulse’s Matthew Wright, Blackwater Elite’s Michael Digregorio, Barangay Ginebra’s Kevin Ferrer, Columbian Dyip’s Rashawn McCarthy, Meralco Bolts’ Baser Amer, and Marcio Lassiter of San Miguel Beermen.
