Canaleta repeats as sultan of slam

CAGAYAN DE ORO — Air21 high-flyer Niño Canaleta successfully defended his slam dunk title even as Coca-Cola wingman William Antonio topped San Miguel guard Olsen Racela in a classic shootout for the Three-Point plum in the 2006 Hope PBA All-Star Extravaganza at the Xavier U Gym here last night.

Though ranged against former titlists Cyrus Baguio and Brandon Cablay, Canaleta proved a class above the rest in the slam dunk contest, putting up a superb show for the cheering local crowd.

Antonio was not to be outdone in the three-point competition, overcoming a tough challenge by Racela to finally win the event in his third try.

Canaleta unraveled four slams that all drew perfect 50-point marks from the panel of judges led by Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno.

Though he missed his final slam, he beat Baguio with plenty to spare for a title-repeat in one of the skills events serving as appetizers for the keenly awaited All-Star Game set at 6 p.m. today in the same venue.

The last to shoot in a three-man finale, Antonio overcame the gnawing pressure brought up by Racela’s explosive 19-point output early on, rifling in even better with 21 to wild applause from the highly appreciative crowd. Purefoods’ James Yap finished third with 10.

Talk n Text’s Willie Miller also seized the spotlight by ruling both the Obstacle Challenge and the Trick Shots events in the spectacle hosted by the provincial government of Misamis Oriental and hosted by Hope in cooperation with Xtreme Magic Sing and Welcoat Paints. The event is also backed by Sunbolt sports drink, Mentos, Chowking, Accel and Air21.

The team of Tony dela Cruz, Chot Reyes and Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Bambi Emano won the inaugural staging of the Shooting Stars event.

The winners received cash prizes from Hope and gift certificates from the other sponsors.

"It was nerve-wracking but it feels good to win. There’s a lot of good outside shooters out there and I was lucky to beat them," said Antonio who reigned supreme in the Three-Point event also participated in by Renren Ritualo, Nic Belasco, Jayjay Helterbrand, Larry Fonacier and title holder Jimmy Alapag.

Ritualo shot only 13 points, Helterbrand and Alapag 12 each, Belasco 10 and Fonacier nine as they failed to make it past the elimination round.

Antonio also topped the eliminations with 19 points with Racela coming in next with 17 then Yap with 14.

With his son with the other PBA stars cheering at midcourt, Racela waxed hotter in the finale, rifling in four points right in the first rack and went on to finish with 19 points.

But Antonio proved to be the hottest of them all, hitting the winning trey on his second ball in the final rack and finishing with 21 with six seconds left in the clock.

"I thought it (Racela’s 19) was tough to beat. But when I concentrated on doing what I have to do, I relaxed a bit and hit those shots," said Antonio.

Miller made a rare-feat of winning two All-Star side events as he beat Jimwell Torion, Ronald Tubid and Paolo Hubalde for the Trick Shots title and showed up Tubid, Mike Cortez, Denok Miranda, Topex Robinson, Dondon Hontiveros and Alex Cabagnot in the Obstacle Challenge.

Robinson, the Obstacle Challenge champion last year in Laoag, settled for runner-up honors this time.

"Kaya pa la makati ang kamay ko kanina," said Miller in jest after topping his two events.

Robinson actually submitted the best clocking of 35.4 seconds in the elims but slowed down and finished at 48 seconds in his title battle with Miller. The eventual champion clocked 44.2 seconds in the elims and 39.5 in the finale.