The North All-Stars bested their South counterparts, 95-91, late Saturday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season All-Star Game Presented BY SiKAT at the Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City.
Will McAloney of Nueva Ecija paced the Northerners with 20 points plus 8 rebounds and was adjudged the MVP over Pampanga pillar Justine Baltazar, who posted 14 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.
Proving why he’s the league’s back-to-back 3-point king, Orlan Wamar of San Juan contributed 12 points, all from afar, 8 assists and 2 steals for the North coached by Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda.
The South All-Stars drew 12 points plus 4 rebounds from Cedrick Ablaza of Batangas, 11 points plus 10 rebounds from Davao and 11 points plus 3 assists from Jhon Jerrick Caspe of Mindoro.
Although the Northerners were taller with 7-footer Greg Slaughter, the 6-foot-8 Baltazar and the 6-7 Rabeh-Al Hussaini at the helm, they were outrebounded by the Southerners, 55-48.
The North, with Pampanga’s Archie Concepcio contributing 9 points, Nueva Ecija’s Robby Celiz and Hussaini 8 points each and Abra’s Roi Sumang 5 points, controlled the game for 28 minutes and led by as many as 14 points, 87-73, before cruising to victory.
MPBL Founder and CEO Manny Pacquiao powered the South past the North, 108-91, in the Executive All-Stars and earned MVP honors.
Pacquiao chalked 39 points, including 8 triples, 8 assists and 3 rebounds while Kaizer Galvez provided support with 34 points and 9 rebounds.
In another side event, Pampanga’s Joe Gomez De Liano dethroned CJ Gania of Negros as slam dunk king.
