(From PBA)
The old slam-dunk champ reclaimed his crown, beating top-class rivals and a pretender.
B-Meg Derby Ace’s KG Canaleta was back on his old haunts, cheered on by peers and foes in winning the highly competitive 2010 PBA All-Star slam dunk competition at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum here.
Grace prevailed over power as Canaleta beat out Sta. Lucia’s Kelly Williams to reclaim the crown he lost to Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood in Manila last year.
Norwood took a shot at back-to-back championships but failed to make it past the elimination round, getting poor scores on his off-timing executions.
Also out after the eliminations was former PBL slam dunk champion JC Intal.
Derby Ace rookie Rico Maierhofer proved to be just a pretender but he was a welcome sight with his game antics.
Missed was Jarred Dillinger who opted out to concentrate on the Obstacle Challenge and the Rookies-Sophomores Bitz Game. The Talk ‘N Text Fil-Am forward provided fun in the competition last year.
“Meaningful ito, kasi talagang ang lakas ng competition,” said Canaleta, who the event thrice from 2005 to 2007.
The 6-foot-4 forward out of University of the East soared past three North All-Star ball boys and elegantly finished it with a right-handed dunk to beat Williams in a slam-off.
He did practically the same routine in two earlier rounds – the first over one man then the second over two men.
“Grabe ang pressure na ibinigay sa akin ni Kelly. Hindi na ako makapag-isip ng gagawin so pinahaba ko na lang ang tinalunan ko. Good thing nagustuhan ng tao at ng mga judges,” said Canaleta, now a four-time slam dunk king in the event where no one else has won more than two.
Will he go for a fifth championship next year? He said: “Mahirap mag-salita. Siguro three-point shootout naman.”
Canaleta barely topped the preliminary round with 95 points to Williams’ 94.
And when Canelata thought he had the championship in the bag with a perfect 50 in the first round of the finale, Williams came to force the slam-off with his own 50 drawn on an off-the-board thunderous two-handed reverse throw-down.
The Sta. Lucia ace then executed another two-hander on a 360-degree turn for 45 points.
On his turn, Canaleta ran from midcourt, soaring high to perform between-the-legs dunk that drew mild response from the crowd.
That prompted Canaleta to opt for a re-dunk.
He summoned three ball boys from the sideline and promptly got the crowd up on their feet.
Doing a perfect execution, Canaleta got another perfect score for the championship cheered on by the highly appreciative crowd in the venue.
The old slam-dunk champ reclaimed his crown, beating top-class rivals and a pretender.
B-Meg Derby Ace’s KG Canaleta was back on his old haunts, cheered on by peers and foes in winning the highly competitive 2010 PBA All-Star slam dunk competition at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum here.
Grace prevailed over power as Canaleta beat out Sta. Lucia’s Kelly Williams to reclaim the crown he lost to Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood in Manila last year.
Norwood took a shot at back-to-back championships but failed to make it past the elimination round, getting poor scores on his off-timing executions.
Also out after the eliminations was former PBL slam dunk champion JC Intal.
Derby Ace rookie Rico Maierhofer proved to be just a pretender but he was a welcome sight with his game antics.
Missed was Jarred Dillinger who opted out to concentrate on the Obstacle Challenge and the Rookies-Sophomores Bitz Game. The Talk ‘N Text Fil-Am forward provided fun in the competition last year.
“Meaningful ito, kasi talagang ang lakas ng competition,” said Canaleta, who the event thrice from 2005 to 2007.
The 6-foot-4 forward out of University of the East soared past three North All-Star ball boys and elegantly finished it with a right-handed dunk to beat Williams in a slam-off.
He did practically the same routine in two earlier rounds – the first over one man then the second over two men.
“Grabe ang pressure na ibinigay sa akin ni Kelly. Hindi na ako makapag-isip ng gagawin so pinahaba ko na lang ang tinalunan ko. Good thing nagustuhan ng tao at ng mga judges,” said Canaleta, now a four-time slam dunk king in the event where no one else has won more than two.
Will he go for a fifth championship next year? He said: “Mahirap mag-salita. Siguro three-point shootout naman.”
Canaleta barely topped the preliminary round with 95 points to Williams’ 94.
And when Canelata thought he had the championship in the bag with a perfect 50 in the first round of the finale, Williams came to force the slam-off with his own 50 drawn on an off-the-board thunderous two-handed reverse throw-down.
The Sta. Lucia ace then executed another two-hander on a 360-degree turn for 45 points.
On his turn, Canaleta ran from midcourt, soaring high to perform between-the-legs dunk that drew mild response from the crowd.
That prompted Canaleta to opt for a re-dunk.
He summoned three ball boys from the sideline and promptly got the crowd up on their feet.
Doing a perfect execution, Canaleta got another perfect score for the championship cheered on by the highly appreciative crowd in the venue.
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