North edges South in thriller as Japeth Aguilar claims third PBA All-Star MVP

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Japeth Aguilar and Justin Arana delivered the decisive baskets as the North squad defeated the South, 147-142, in the PBA Season 50 All-Star Game on Sunday, March 8, at the Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur. The victory extended North’s dominance in the midseason showcase and highlighted Aguilar’s standout performance in front of the All-Star crowd.

Aguilar finished with 29 points while Arana scored 12 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter. Their late-game heroics allowed the North side to secure its sixth straight win over the South team in the All-Star showcase.

Japeth Aguilar throws down a dunk during the PBA Season 50 All-Star Game at Candon City Arena. [photo credit: Peter Baltazar, PBA Pool]

CJ Perez led all scorers with 32 points and sparked North’s offense early in the contest. He knocked down seven shots from the combined three-point and four-point lines as the North squad built momentum during the opening half.

Converge rookie Juan Gomez de Liano impressed in his All-Star debut with 23 points while Adrian Nocum added 22. The North squad coached by Leo Austria eventually secured the P250,000 prize after holding off South’s late rally.

Late baskets seal North victory

The South squad mounted a strong comeback after trailing earlier in the contest. RJ Abarrientos, Calvin Oftana, Caelan Tiongson and Leonard Santillan helped their side erase a deficit and grab a 121-118 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Abarrientos later pushed South ahead 142-140 with a clutch three-pointer that briefly placed them in control. The basket created a tense closing stretch as both squads battled for the lead.

Arana responded with back-to-back baskets that broke the final deadlock and pushed North ahead 144-142 with 70 seconds remaining. Aguilar followed with a fastbreak dunk that sealed the victory and capped the dramatic finish.

The North team celebrates after securing a 147-142 victory in the PBA Season 50 All-Star Game. [photo credit: Peter Baltazar, PBA Pool]

Aguilar captures historic third All-Star MVP

Aguilar was named the Most Valuable Player of the PBA Season 50 All-Star Game after delivering an electrifying performance. The 39-year-old veteran also grabbed six rebounds and recorded two assists while finishing a perfect 7-of-7 on dunk attempts.

The award marked the third time Aguilar captured the All-Star MVP honor. He previously shared the recognition with Arwind Santos in 2019 and with Robert Bolick in 2024.

Aguilar said he simply wanted to enjoy the All-Star experience and entertain the fans who packed the arena. His performance placed him among the most decorated players in the event’s history.

Vergel Meneses remains the all-time leader with four All-Star MVP awards while Terrence Romeo also owns three. Aguilar joined Romeo as one of only three players to win the honor at least three times.

Despite the loss, the South squad produced a strong offensive effort throughout the contest. Aleck Stockton led the team with 29 points highlighted by several crowd-pleasing dunks.

Abarrientos finished with 26 points while Oftana added 23. Tiongson contributed 17 points and Santillan chipped in 14 as South rallied late but ultimately fell short.

The traditional Arena Social dance contest held before the game ended in a draw as the North and South squads split the P125,000 prize money. The event also featured the Daily Fantasy Shooting Stars side competition.

The Blue Team composed of Adrian Nocum, Cabugad councilor Michael Sarmento, sports caster Jamie Lim, Tiebreaker Times reporter Justine Bacnis and Rexor Burgos emerged as the winners after defeating three other teams.