MANILA, Philippines: The 2024 PBA All-Star Weekend in Bacolod City has replaced the annual Slam Dunk contest with a new Three-Point Shootout that will feature big men, known for hitting from long range.
Phoenix's left-handed wingman Jason Perkins, along with NLEX veteran Sean Anthony and Rain or Shine rookie Keith Datu are among the top three-point shooting big men in the just-concluded Commissioner's Cup.
The trio, along with Blackwater freshman Christian David, Ginebra's Ralph Cu, Keith Zaldivar of Converge, Magnolia's Aris Dionisio, Meralco rookie Brandon Bates, NorthPort's athletic big man JM Calma, San Miguel's Moala Tautuaa, Terrafirma's Isaac Go and TNT's newly-acquired Fil-American big man Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser are the other participants for the Three-Point shootout for big men.
Meanwhile, Magnolia's top gunner Paul Lee is set to defend his Three-Point Shootout crown among the guards, with last season's runner-up Marcio Lassiter of San Miguel out to deny the "Angas ng Tondo" a chance to repeat.
Other participants in the long-range shootout include Barangay Ginebra's Maverick Ahanmisi, Meralco guard/forward Chris Newsome, NLEX's Robbie Herndon, NorthPort's Arvin Tolentino, two-time league Most Valuable Player James Yap of Blackwater, Alec Stockton of Converge, Phoenix guard Tyler Tio, Andrei Caracut of Rain or Shine, Javi Gomez de Liano of Terrafirma, and Calvin Oftana of TNT.
Adding more excitement to this year's Annual Mid-season spectacle is the Obstacle Challenge, where NLEX big man Dave Marcelo will be defending his crown.
Marcelo's challengers include Christian Standhardinger of Barangay Ginebra, Blackwater rookie big man Clifford Jopia, Justin Arana of Converge, James Laput of Magnolia, along with Calma, Perkins, Bates, Datu, Tautuaa, and Ganuelas-Rosser.
The three side events will serve as appetizer for the Annual mid-season spectacle set on March 23-24 at the University of Saint La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City.
The main All-Star Game will then feature Team Mark Barroca, handled by newly-minted Commissioner's Cup champion coach Jorge Gallent of San Miguel Beer, going up against Team Japeth Aguilar, which will have Ginebra mentor Tim Cone.
The 2024 PBA All-Star marks its return to the City of Smiles for the first time in 16 years.
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