Yap the sentimental pick

The PBA All-Star Weekend will unveil for the first time ever two Long Distance Three-Point Shootouts, one for bigs and one for guards and wings, at the University of St. La Salle gym in Bacolod City this Saturday. No slam dunk contest will be held this year with the Shootout for bigs taking the slot in the program.

The Skills Challenge or Obstacle Course featuring 12 contestants will kick off the Saturday show at 3 p.m. then it will be the Shootouts before the Blitz Game pitting Team Stalwarts, coached by Peter Martin, against Team Greats, coached by Patrick Partosa, in the duel among rookies, sophomores and juniors. On Sunday, the All-Star Game will be the big attraction with coach Tim Cone calling the shots for Team Japeth and coach Jorge Gallent steering Team Mark. June Mar Fajardo, Jayson Castro, CJ Perez, Jio Jalalon, Robert Bolick, Ricci Rivero and Calvin Abueva headline Team Mark while Jamie Malonzo, Christian Standhardinger, RR Pogoy, Chris Newsome, Terrence Romeo, Calvin Oftana and Paul Lee are with Team Japeth.

The Shootouts will be a spectacle for sure. The cast of bigs (with three-point percentages last conference) list Jason Perkins (.282), Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser (.273), James Laput (0), Sean Anthony (.459), JM Calma (0), Fajardo (.500), Isaac Go (.364), Keith Zaldivar (.455), Ralph Cu (.200), Christian David (.250), Raymond Almazan (.250) and Santi Santillan (.308). The lineup of guards and wings consists of defending champion Lee (.391), Maverick Ahanmisi (.361), Alec Stockton (.440), Newsome (.325), Robbie Herndon (.387), Arvin Tolentino (.352), Ken Tuffin (.342), Andrei Caracut (.400), Marcio Lassiter (.451), Javi Gomez de Liaño (.375), Oftana (.416) and James Yap (.714). Yap was the Shootout king in 2009 and 2018. He hit 5-of-7 from beyond the arc last conference.

The choices were restricted to one per team. Among the missing gunners are Beau Belga (.452), Jewel Ponferrada (.429), Kemark Carino (.588), Castro (.485), Kim Aurin (.583), Malonzo (.415), Simon Enciso (.355), RJ Jazul (.422), Don Trollano (.383), Jericho Cruz (.364), Juami Tiongson (.264), Kelly Williams (.303), Rey Suerte (.314), Allein Maliksi (.386) and Stanley Pringle (.344).

Calma and Laput never took a shot from beyond the arc last conference. Calma’s rookie teammate Zavier Lucero is shooting .364 and seems more deserving of a slot in the contest. Laput’s teammate Russel Escoto shot .444 last conference and could be a better choice from Magnolia. Almazan is hitting 1-of-1 from triple range this conference while teammate Norbert Torres is shooting 5-of-11 or .455. But Almazan got the nod to rep Meralco instead of Torres.

Shooters with a quick release and strong wrist-flip action are at an advantage. Those who are jump shooters could be at a disadvantage because their legs may not be as springy down the stretch. It’s critical to be comfortable where to pick up the balls from the rack, either left or right and moving from point to point. Among the bigs, the favorites are Perkins, Santillan and David with Fajardo looming as a darkhorse. Lee will be challenged by Yap, Herndon, Tolentino, Caracut and Oftana. Yap, the sentimental pick playing before provincemates and the oldest competitor at 42, will no doubt be out there stroking for his third championship.