Orlan Wamar displayed flawless shooting on the second rack, securing the 3-Point Shootout championship with a total of 20 points during the OKBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Season 5 All-Star Weekend at the Bataan People’s Center in Balanga, Bataan.
The San Juan Knights’ standout player, standing at 5-foot-6, dethroned Bacolod’s Dom Matillano, who fell short with 18 points, and Pasig’s Robbie Manalang, who scored 14.
Wamar, a prized talent from Centro Escolar University, also dominated the elimination round with 21 points, followed by Manalang with 19 and Matillano with 17, securing his spot in the finals by nailing his final shot and outshooting 16-pointers Jonathan Uyloan and Levi Hernandez.
Meanwhile, CJ Gania of Pampanga soared above teammate Encho Serrano, executing a one-handed slam that earned a perfect score of 50 points in the finals, defeating Bulacan’s Justine Guevarra and crowd favorite Poypoy Actub of Imus in the Slam Dunk competition.
Guevarra replicated Gania’s dunk with a slight push from his helper, securing the second spot with 45 points.
Actub, who dominated the eliminations, faltered in his final two attempts, settling for third place.
These victories awarded Wamar and Gania P30,000 each, with an additional P20,000 Anta gift certificate for Gania. (ai/mnm)