By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Paul Lee turned City of Passi Arena as his playground as he powered Team Japeth to score a 140-136 victory over Team Scottie in the 2023 PBA All-Star Weekend on Sunday night, March 12.
Lee, who ruled the Three-Point Shootout last Friday, March 10, waxed hot with seven four-point conversions to finish with 32 points and be hailed as the PBA All-Star Most Valuable Player.
Roger Pogoy and Jamie Malonzo came up huge in the fourth quarter to finish with 20 markers apiece, while Chris Newsome and Calvin Oftana contributed 16 points each for Team Japeth.
From a close game in the opening quarter, Team Japeth created separation with consecutive four-point shots from Lee and outside connections from Arwind Santos for a 37-28 lead.
Lee continued his long-range bombs in the second quarter as the lead reached double-digits, but Team Scottie came up with late baskets as they cut the deficit to 65-74 at the half.
Team Japeth pulled away in the third quarter with two outside hits from Lee and inside attacks from Malonzo for a 15-point spread, but Team Scottie turned things around behind Kevin Alas and Jaymar Perez to take a 104-100 edge.
Team Scottie maintained the lead early in the fourth quarter with connections by Christian Standhardinger and Robert Bolick Jr., but Team Japeth rode on the exploits of Malonzo and Pogoy to take a 122-116 advantage.
Team Scottie made its push and took a 125-124 lead on a basket by Calvin Abueva before Malonzo and Pogoy anchored another run for Team Japeth to build a 133-127 lead with less than two minutes left.
Team Scottie made its last push at 136-138 on an outside connection by Perez, but two free throws by Malonzo followed by a stop by Lee on an outside hit by Earl Scottie Thompson sealed the win for Team Japeth.
Alas top-scored for Team Scottie with 35 points, Perez and Standhardinger chipped in 26 and 22 markers, respectively, while Abueva and Bolick also hit double-digits with 15 and 14 points, respectively.
TEAM JAPETH 140 — Lee 32, Pogoy 20, Malonzo 20, Newsome 16, Oftana 16, Santos 8, Jalalon 8, Mamuyac 7, Pinto 6, Almazan 4, Gray 3, Cabagnot 0.
TEAM SCOTTIE 136 — Alas 35, Perez 26, Standhardinger 22, Abueva 15, Bolick 14, Tolentino 7, Barroca 7, Pringle 4, Castro 4, Yap 2, Thompson 0, Lassiter 0.
Quarterscores: 37-28, 74-65, 100-104, 140-136./ASC, WDJ