The last PBA All-Star Game was all fun and games, with a lot of buckets.
It was 2019 when the PBA last played an All-Star Game, and it was one to remember—high scoring, high octane, and all fun and games. And, in terms of sheer entertainment factor, it might be hard to top.
So, as this season’s All-Stars gear up for the first All-Star Game to be played in three years, here are some of the memorable moments of 2019’s fun-filled spectacle, along with a few notes about the game:
The teams scored a bunch
The 2019 All-Star Game was a high-scoring affair, with the North All-Stars drubbing their South counterparts, 185-170. The two teams’ prolific shot-making also made history, as the final tally was good enough to set the record for highest-scoring All-Star Game in history.
Benjie Paras spiced up the dance-off
The pre-game dance-off has been a fixture in All-Star Games, but the 2019 All-Star Game dance-off might have been the best of the lot, with PBA legend Benjie Paras showing the young guns how it’s done. The Tower of Power even did the Floss, a popular dance move that time. The North All-Stars followed Paras’ lead and danced their way to a nice cash prize.
Japeth Aguilar put on a show
The high-flying Aguilar went on a dunking spree in the 2019 PBA All-Star Game on his way to 32 points and the co-MVP with teammate Arwind Santos. Aguilar’s highlight of highlights, though, came in the third quarter, when he glided over South big man June Mar Fajardo—legs spread out like the Jumpman logo—for a vicious one-handed jam.
It rained threes
Marcio Lassiter and Paul Lee of the North All-Stars started the game off with back-to-back trifectas, and those two makes were a portent of things to come. The two teams would go on to hit 43 more triples combined to set the record for most treys made in an All-Star Game at 45.
PBA legends gave it a go
The 2019 PBA All-Star Game also saw four legends play with the current crop of stars, with Paras and Ronnie Magsanoc reinforcing the North All-Stars and Alvin Patrimonio and Jerry Codiñera backstopping the South All-Stars.
All in all, the 2019 PBA All-Star Game delivered on the ultimate goal—to entertain the fans. This year’s All-Stars will try to do the same as Team Japeth takes on Team Scottie.
Catch the 2023 PBA All-Star Game live this Sunday, 6:30 p.m., only at TV5.