#PBA2015 All-Star Weekend Roundup: March 6-8, 2015

The 2015 PBA All-Star Weekend was entertaining as hell. There were great performances all around — from the side events to the Rookies vs. Sophomores Game to the Dance Showdown and, of course, to the main event. It was a treat for the fans, and a great way to end the first half of the season.

Game recap (adapted from Interkasyon):

ROOKIES over SOPHOMORES, 150-131
The Rookies and the Sophomores squad put on a nice show before fans, but it was the freshmen who came away with a 150-131 victory in a highly entertaining Blitz Game of the PBA All-Star Weekend Friday at Puerto Princesa Coliseum in Palawan.

Matt Ganuelas-Rosser of Talk ‘N Text piled up 32 points, four assists, two steals, and three blocks to lead the Rookies, who dominated the game from start to finish.

Tropang Texters teammate Kevin Alas led the Rookies with 35 points, while GlobalPort’s top draft pick Stanley Pringle added 22 markers.

But it was in the closing minutes where both teams provided the game’s most entertaining plays as they capped the match with a dunk showdown featuring a tag-team between their small and big players.

Terrence Romeo of GlobalPort exploded for 50 points for the Sophomores, but it wasn’t enough to lift his team to victory.

After a 4-0 start by the Sophomores, the Rookies controlled the game behind Pringle, Talk ‘N Text’s Kevin Alas, and Blackwater’s Brian Heruela, who knocked down a stepback jumper plus and-one to help his team grab a 43-33 lead after the first quarter.

The Sophomores then filled the second quarter with highlights from Purefoods’ high-flying guard Justin Melton, who made at least two dunks in the period, as well as the scoring machine Romeo, who finished with 27 points at the half.

However, the Rookies still maintained a 76-65 advantage heading into the break.

The Rookies continued to dominated the game, leading by as many as 25 points in the final period to come away with the victory over their more experienced rivals.

With the game already decided, players from both sides had fun by having an exhibition of dunks, with guards led by Romeo, Garcia, and Fortuna being carried by their taller teammates such as Almazan and Rosser to complete the jams, which left fans entertained.

The game featured some unique set of rules, with an 18-second shot clock, a six-second backing violation, and three-point dunks being applied which made the game even more exciting and fast-paced.

Matt Rosser shone brightest as the Rookies beat the Sophomores!

NORTH ALL-STARS over SOUTH ALL-STARS, 165-161
Alaska star Calvin Abueva and GlobalPort hotshot Terrence Romeo put up monster performances as they lifted the North team to a 166-161 comeback win over the South squad to culminate the 2015 PBA All-Star Weekend Sunday at Puerto Princesa Coliseum.

Abueva finished with 37 points, 16 rebounds, and seven assists to lead the North team, which trailed by as much as 17 points in the first half.

Romeo scored 30 points and three rebounds to bag the All-Star Game MVP honors. This capped an incredible All-Star Weekend performance that also saw him win the Three-Point Shootout.

Talk ‘N Text manager Jimmy Alapag, who had an emotional retirement ceremony at the half, dished 17 assists, a new All-Star game record.

The game started with a flurry of jams from both squads led by Ginebra high-flyer Japeth Aguilar to get things going in the fast-paced game.

The North team got off to a 7-2 start before the South squad started to knock down three-point baskets to grab a 48-41 lead after the first quarter.

Rain or Shine sniper Jeff Chan’s three triples in the second period helped the South squad push its lead to 17, 72-55, with over six minutes left in the second period.

But the North team was able to come back behind the Pampanga quartet of Talk ‘N Text’s Jayson Castro, San Miguel Beer’s Arwind Santos, Aguilar and Abueva, who top-scored the half with 20 points, as they came within six before heading into the break with South just up by seven, 88-81.

At the half, the league paid tribute to Alapag in an emotional ceremony which saw his jersey retired after a 12-year career.

North finally took the lead, 95-94, after an Aguilar slam early in the third quarter. But Ginebra’s Greg Slaughter got it going in offense as he helped South regain a double-digit advantage, 135-125, heading into the final frame.

North then launched a blistering 18-2 run to open the fourth quarter ignited by Abueva and Romeo that gave them the upper hand, 143-137.

The North team went on to lead by as much as 12 points, 158-146, after a Romeo triple.

An Alapag triple and a layup from Alaska’ Cyrus Baguio kept South just within four, 165-161, in the closing seconds.

But a Romeo free throw split sealed the North win.