Japeth Aguilar in the PBA Season 50 All-Star Game. PBA Images.MANILA — The North team leaned on late-game heroics from Justin Arana and Japeth Aguilar to pull off a 147-142 victory over the South side in the PBA Season 50 All-Star Game on Sundat at the Candon City Arena.
Aguilar finished with 29 points, while Arana scored 12 of his 16 in the fourth quarter to lead North to its sixth straight win over South since the 2010 edition of the mid-season classic.
Arana’s back-to-back baskets broke the game’s final deadlock for a 144-142 North lead with 1:10 remaining, and Aguilar sealed the win with a fastbreak dunk for the final score.
The 39-year-old Aguilar, who went a perfect 7-of-7 in dunk attempts, also had six rebounds and two assists, earning his third All-Star MVP honor. He previously shared the award with Arwind Santos in 2019 and Robert Bolick in 2024.
“I just want to enjoy the All-Star game and give the fans a show,” Aguilar said. He became only the third player to win the MVP three times, joining Terrence Romeo (three) and Vergel Meneses (four).
CJ Perez led all scorers with 32 points, including 7-of-17 from the combined three- and four-point lines, helping North build an early 43-25 lead in the opening quarter. Rookie Juan Gomez De Liano impressed with 23 points in his All-Star debut, while Adrian Nocum added 22. The North team, coached by Leo Austria, shared P250,000 in prize money.
For South, Aleck Stockton scored 29 points, while RJ Abarrientos had 26, Calvin Oftana 23, Caelan Tiongson 17, and Leonard Santillan 14 as they rallied to a 121-118 lead entering the fourth. Abarrientos’ three-pointer gave South a 142-140 advantage for the last time before North’s late surge. Chot Reyes coached the South squad.
Meanwhile, the traditional dance contest that preceded the All-Star game ended in a draw, with North and South splitting P125,000 in prize money.
The Scores:
North 147 — Perez 32, Aguilar 29, Gomez de Liano 23, Nocum 22, Arana 16, Baltazar 9, Trollano 8, Holt 6, Mamuyac 2, Newsome 0, Cansino 0.
South 142 — Stockton 29, Abarrientos 26, Oftana 23, Tiongson 17, Santillan 14, Bolick 13, Fajardo 11, Nambatac 5, Bahio 4.
Quarterscores: 50-36; 79-72; 118-121; 147-142.