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Last
year in San Fernando, La Union, fans came in droves anticipating a slam-bang
showdown between Kelly Williams and Niño Canaleta in the
finals of PBA All-Star Slam-Dunk Contest.
Too bad
Williams spoiled their expectations. The Sta. Lucia
star, a rookie at the time, never got past the
eliminations when he failed to convert twice on his
between-the-legs jam.
And so
Canaleta, the high-flying Air21 forward, won an
unprecedented third-straight dunk title at the expense
of Talk ’N Text forward Jay Washington in the final
behind a windmill side-winder and a thunderous
one-hander over a volunteer spectator after taking off
from the free-throw line.
Canaleta
admitted Williams’s early ouster eased the pressure off
him, thus making the 2008 slam competition easily one of
the most highly anticipated in years.
Canaleta,
who seems to find joy every time he dunks, is expected
to be back again this summer and provide a game
challenge to those who wish to take his crown. No player
in the history of the contest has won the slam-dunk
title four consecutive times.
But he
could encounter tough challenge this time with Williams
also expected to make a return as the recently named
Best Player of the Conference hopes to redeem himself.
Bacolod
is hosting this year’s midseason spectacle from April 24
to 27.
Other
possible high flyers who will join the jam session are
Air21’s Arwind Santos, former champion Cyrus Baguio of
Red Bull, Welcoat rookie Joe Devance and Sonny Thoss of
Alaska.
Besides
the dunk contest, other side events to be played in the
All-Star festivities are the three-point shootout, the
trick-shot event and the obstacle challenge.
San
Miguel’s sweet-shooting guard Dondon Hontiveros is the
reigning three-point king, Willie Miller of
Alaska holds the title in the obstacle challenge, while Denok
Miranda is the defending champion in the trick event.
Also
part of the All-Star week is the Blitz Game between the
Rookies and the Sophomores. Last year the freshmen
scored a breakthrough 122-107 rout of the Sophomores. |
