South routs North in MPBL All-Star showdown

MANILA, Philippines – The South All-Stars surprised their North counterparts with strong rebounding and accurate shooting en route to a 109-84 romp in the PayMaya Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup All-Star Extravaganza at Mall of Asia Arena early Sunday.

Jeff Viernes of the Batangas City Athletics shone the brightest for the Southerners with 19 points and three rebounds in just 13 minutes and 13 seconds of play and was adjudged All-Star MVP.

The peppery point guard, a wild card pick by South head coach Don Dulay, got ample support from Gab Banal of the Bacoor, Mark Yee of the Davao Occidental Tigers, Reed Juntilla of Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines, and Jhaymo Eguilos, also of the Athletics, as the Southerners sealed the outcome, 94-68, early in the fourth quarter.

Banal scored 11, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished off seven assists, Yee contributed 10 points and nine rebounds, Juntilla added 11 points, and Eguilos wound up with 11 points and eight rebounds for the Southerners who ruled the boards, 52-3

Actor Gerald Anderson proved he’s really star material with three triples, including two buzzer-beaters at halftime that shoved the Southerners ahead, 44-41, and third quarter that pushed them farther away, 79-64.

In addition, Anderson, playing for the Marikina Shoemasters, made a game-high five steals, snatched two rebounds and issued two assists against only one turnover.

The Northerners, mentored by Basilan Risers head coach Jojo Lastimosa, drew 11 points from his wild card pick, Chris Bitoon of the Manila Stars, and 10 points each from Ryan Ayon Ayon of the San Juan Knights and Jay Collado of the Quezon City Capitals.

The Southerners bagged the P500,000 winner’s purse apart from the P100,000 that went to head coach Don Dulay of the Davao Occidental Tigers. Assistant coach Jack Ascueta of the Muntinlupa Cagers got P50,000.

For earning MVP honors, Viernes received P50,000.

Jason Mauricio of Binan, Laguna, was the lucky winner of the brand-new Ford Ranger raffled off by MPBL founder Sen. Manny Pacquiao after the All-Star game that started late Saturday. Maurico was actually only the fourth pick of the eight-division world champion as the three earlier announced winners were not present.