THE Mindanao All-Stars posted a convincing 144-130 victory over the Smart Gilas Pilipinas Wednesday evening in the 2018 PBA All-Star Week kick-off at the jam-packed Davao del Sur Coliseum in Digos City.
Davao City pride Baser Amer provided the much-needed spark in the playoff period as the Mindanao All-Stars silenced the surging Gilas.
Amer finished with 22 points to deserve the most valuable player (MVP) award in the Mindanao Leg of the week-long star-studded squeaker.
Mark Barroca and everybody's darling PJ Simon of Makilala, North Cotabato combined for 37 points.
June Mar Fajardo remains consistent, pouring out 34 points for the national team which also relied on their second bigman Japeth Aguilar who scored 25.
Meanwhile, the tandem of lawyer Mans Carpio, husband of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, and Terrence "The Brow" Romeo scored a devastating 33 points combined to emerge as champion in the Legends Three-Point Shootout, one of the highlight reels of the All-Star Week.
Carpio only had nine points during his attempt but Romeo, a two-time three-point shootout champion, came to the rescue, firing 24 points which includes eight money balls.
The Carpio-Romeo tandem downed the teams of Congressman Bobby Pacquiao and Kenneth Duremdez (27), Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Bong Go and Allan Caidic (22) and major Michael Sapsal and Scottie Thompson of Barangay Ginebra (18).
Go, in his opening remarks, stressed that they joined the three-point shootout as it also symbolizes their support for President Rodrigo Duterte's "Three Points" program.
"Mayor Rody Duterte’s three-point program means to fight against one – drugs, two – corruption, and three - criminality," the SAP said.