Big men shooters out to shine

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THE traditional slam dunk contest will not be held but this year’s PBA All-Star weekend will not lack luster.

SEEKING REFRAIN: Paul Lee will try to annex another shooting title.

The pro league will offer a new side event in the Skills Challenge set for March 23 in Bacolod City.

A three-point shootout featuring the big men of the league will replace the dunk contest, a regular staple in the mid-season spectacle since 1992.

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But the Obstacle Challenge and the three-point shootout among the guards will still to be played, with Dave Marcelo and Paul Lee coming back to defend their respective titles.

Among the big men seeing action in the long-distance shootout are Jason Perkins (Phoenix), Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser (TNT), Aris Dionisio (Magnolia), Sean Anthony (NLEX), JM Calma (Northport), Mo Tautuaa (San Miguel), Isaac Go (Terrafirma), Keith Zaldivar (Converge), and rookies Ralph Cu (Ginebra), Christian David (Blackwater), Brandon Bates (Meralco), and Keith Datu (Rain or Shine).

Set to give Lee a run for his money in his bid for back-to-back titles are Maverick Ahanmisi (Ginebra), Alex Stockton (Converge), Chris Newsome (Meralco), Robbie Herndon (NLEX), Arvin Tolentino (Northport), Tyler Tio (Phoenix), Andrei Caracut (Rain or Shine), Marcio Lassiter (san Miguel), Javi Gomez de Liano (Terrafirma), Calvin Oftana (TNT), and James Yap (Blackwater).

Outside of Lee, Yap is the only other champion of the event, having ruled the tilt twice in 2009 and 2018, respectively.

Marcelo is expected to draw a stern challenge in the Obstacle Challenge from Christian Standhardinger (Ginebra), Justin Arana (Converge), James Laput (Magnolia), Calma (Northport), Perkins (Phoenix), Tautuaa (San Miguel), Go (Terrafirma), Ganuelas-Rosser (TNT), and freshmen Clifford Jopia, Brandon Bates, and Keith Datu.

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