Two-time champ Beau Belga cedes the throne to Dave Marcelo.
A new champion has been crowned for the PBA All-Star Weekend's Obstacle Challenge.
TNT Tropang Giga’s Dave Marcelo dethroned Beau Belga, who was coming into this year's edition with back-to-back wins in the event.
En route to the title, Marcelo defeated JM Calma of the NorthPort Batang Pier and Jeepy Faundo of the San Miguel Beermen in the first two rounds before outlasting Belga and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel's Christian Standhardinger in the final.
In the championship round, the 34-year-old finished the obstacle course with a time of 25.38 seconds, beating Standhardinger's 27.47 seconds.
He actually came into the contest with paltry expectations, "Huwag lang gumulong," Marcelo bared. Still, he competed with his all, and his labor did not go in vain.
“Sobrang amazing sa experience, plus hindi ko expect na ganun kasi first time ko dito and hindi ko alam na ganun mangyayari. I don't expect much but I did my best and compete, so ayun, maganda naman ang resulta,” said Marcelo.
Cheering on Marcelo as he won was his TNT teammate, Roger Pogoy, who said he helped the big man prepare for the contest.
“Nag-practice talaga kami kagabi dun sa hotel,” said Pogoy. “Sabi ko sa kanya na pag-gumulong ka, uwi na tayo.”
Marcelo will head back to Manila with all smiles and some hardware.