BACOLOD - Team Greats made it two in a row against Team Stalwarts, 142-133, to keep its stranglehold of the PBA All-Star Blitz Game Saturday night at the University of La Salle gymnasium.
Justin Arana imposed himself in the middle for Team Greats, finishing with 36 points and eight rebounds to emerge as MVP of the Rookies/Sophomores/Juniors All-Stars.
Team Greats also won over Team Stalwarts in last year's All-Star edition in Passi City, Iloilo, 158-138, in which Arana also belonged to the winning side.
"Ang mindset ko talaga ayaw kong mag 1-1. Gusto ko 2-0 talaga," said Arana, last year's Rookie of the Year, who received P30,000 for his MVP feat.
His 36 points is also the most in the Greats vs Stalwarts game since Encho Serrano dropped 40 in a losing cause last year.
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The victory also gave Team Greats of coach Patrick Partosa the top prize of P100,000.
Sophomore Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser finished with 23 points highlighted by a couple of 3-point dunks, while Jerrick Ahanmisi added 21 including a conversion from the four-point area during a third quarter run when Team Greats finally took control of the game presented by Arena Plus.
TNT rookie Kim Aurin had 23 and Obstacle Challenge champion JM Calma 22 in a losing effort for Team Stalwarts of coach Peter Martin.
Team Stalwarts received P50,000.(RG)
The scores
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Team Greats (142) - Arana 36, Ganuelas-Rosser 23, Ahanmisi 21, Stockton 9, Tuffin 8, Ildefonso 8, Laput 8, Caracut 8, Ilagan 8, Mamuyac 6, Cu 5, Gomez de Liano 2.
Team Stalwarts (133) - Aurin 23, Calma 22, Munzon 16, David 15, Yu 12, Santillan 12, Asistio 8, Zaldivar 7, Holt 7, Nocum 6, Amores 5.
Quarters: 39-45; 78-73; 109-106; 142-133.
