All eyes on Ellis at All-Star slam dunk tilt

DAVAO – Ginebra rookie high-flyer Chris Ellis looms as the new player to watch in the slam-dunk contest even as a host of worthy challengers are expected to give three-time Three-Point Shootout champ Mark Macapagal a tough challenge during the skills competitions of the 2013 PBA All-Star Week Saturday at the Davao del Sur Coliseum in Digos.

Ellis, Ginebra’s latest livewire performer, is pointed by almost everybody as the top bet to claim the crown to be abdicated by five-time undefeated champion KG Canaleta.

Canaleta, winning his fifth title in Laoag City last year, himself considers Ellis as the top choice, saying the 6-foot-4 Ginebra forward is an exciting midair artist that could well wow the crowd and gain the nod of the judges.

“I’ll try to give a little show, try to do something for everybody. I’ve got some things lined up, but we’ll see when get there,” said Ellis, among the players in the main bulk of PBA contingent flying to this Mindanao premier city Wednesday.

Two other rookie jammers in Calvin Abueva and Cliff Hodge and old participants Arwind Santos and Elmer Espiritu are entered in slam-dunk, the most-awaited individual event in the annual midseason spectacle.

Meanwhile, wide-open battles are foreseen in Three-Point Shootout and in Obstacle Challenge, the other skills events ushering in the All-Star hostilities.

“I’m up against a tough field. All can light up the board in any given night. Worse for me is that I haven’t touched the ball since we’re eliminated (in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup),” said Macapagal.

“But, of course, I’ll try to defend my title. Hopefully, as champion, I’ll be the last to shoot. When you’re the last, you know the score you’ll try to catch. They changed the rule last time around in Laoag. I was somewhere in the middle then,” Macapagal added.

Canaleta, Josh Urbiztondo and Marcio Lassiter, the three other semifinalists last year, are back to challenge Macapagal.

Others in the elite list of participants are two-time PBA season MVP winners James Yap and Willie Miller, sophomore standout Jayvee Casio and rookie hotshot Chris Tiu.

Tiu is a dark horse, being a former two-time winner in the three-point shootout in the collegiate all-stars.

“I also haven’t touched the ball in a while, but I’ll be there to have fun. The shooter who gets a good feel and good rhythm wins it,” said Tiu.

Macapagal beat Canaleta, Urbiztondo and Lassiter in the finale last year, becoming the first three-time ruler of the competition. Before the Laoag edition of the PBA All-Stars, Mapacagal, Allan Caidic, Jasper Ocampo and Boyet Fernandez shared the honors as two-time winners.

 Villanueva looks for his own four-peat in the Obstacle Challenge where participants go through an obstacle course performing different basketball skills. The player who finishes the course in the shortest time wins the crown.

Out to foil Villanueva’s bid are Miller (himself a former three-time winner), Casio, Hodge, Mark Barroca, Simon Atkins, Ronald Tubid, Pamboy Raymundo and Paul Lee.

The FEU alum successfully defended the crown for the second time in Laoag, matching the three-year reign of Miller from 2006 to 2008.

The six-foot guard beat Lee in the final round by a heartbeat with the former clocking 31.3 as against the latter’s 31.3. LA Tenorio finished second runner-up at 43 seconds.

Miller (30.1), Alex Cabagnot (32.2), Rob Labagala (33.8), Jojo Duncil (36.3) and Jayvee Casio (36.5) were out after the elimination round.

Among those flying here yesterday were members of the PBA selection and those playing in the Legends Game. Members of Gilas Pilipinas follow on Friday.

Gilas Pilipinas and the PBA selection play in the All-Star Game Sunday.