MANILA -- The Mindanao All-Stars pulled off a fourth quarter show to blow past the Smart All-Star National Team, 144-130, in the first leg of the PBA All-Star Week at the Davao Del Sur Coliseum in Digos on Wednesday night.
Mindanao banked on a hot three-point spree that ignited a game-turning 18-0 run in the fourth quarter that even saw Sonny Thoss making one from deep to pull away for good from the Smart All-Stars, who are part of the Gilas pool for the third window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
Baser Amer came off the bench to lead Mindanao with 22 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and one steal en route to All-Star Game MVP honor.
Mark Barroca added 20 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and three steals as he and the rest of the team gave Tim Cone, his former coach at Magnolia, his first All-Star win since 1999.
Junemar Fajardo dropped 34 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, and one block for the Smart All-Star National Team.
Meanwhile, the tandem of Terrence Romeo and Mans Carpio won the special three-point shootout that took place before the All-Star Game.
Romeo and Carpio combined for 33 points, enough to beat the three other pairs in the side event, the team-ups of Bong Go and Allan Caidic; Kenneth Duremdes and Bobby Pacquiao; and Scottie Thompson and Michael Sabsal.
Romeo, who came on as a late replacement for PJ Simon, erupted for 24 points by himself, which bested the scores of the Go-Caidic (22) and the Thompson-Sabsal (18) duos. Duremdes and Pacquiao came in second with 27. (PNA)
