Murrell wins PBA All Star dunkfest

The PBA version of the All Star Slam Dunk contest went down to the final dunk with Converge’s David Murrell winning by a narrow margin over Blackwater’s Tyrus Hill to crown himself as the 2023 PBA All Star Slam Dunk king on Friday in Passi City, Iloilo.

The 6-foot-4 wingman completed a 360 degree, windmill slam to win by one point over Hill. This was a follow up on a clean 360, two-handed dunk which he completed on a single attempt.

The pair of dunks earned him a total of 92 points from the judges.

Hill, on the other hand, tried to dunk deep into his elbow. Although he got the ball in, he did not get the desired impact. He then wrapped it up with a better one, a successful dunk over Ginebra’s Jamie Malonzo.

Hill got a total of 91 points from the judges, just one point below Murrell’s.

FRED C. LUMBA SPORTS KEN

Just two months away and there seems to be not much news coming out from the POC, the NSAs and the PSC regarding the present set-up, status and scouting prospects for the Philippine delegation to the SEA Games in Cambodia.

Unlike the yonder seasons when the POC was helmed by seasoned sports leaders where they could predict how many golds, silvers and bronzes will the Pinoy athletes - at the status they are in - bring home.

As usual, the final selection of athletes by their respective NSAs is still going under scrutiny and last minute changes may occur so that the submission of official entries may take a little bit more time.

NSAs usually are tightlipped about their respective gold medal chances. They don’t want to make a verbal prediction because they are scared of the media backlash.

During all the many years of my sports coverage at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex since the mid-70s, there were but a handful of NSA presidents who boldly verbalized their winning chances two months before the actual competition.

One of these NSA chiefs was Go Teng Kok, retired president

“To be honest I thought Tyrus had it that’s why I thought I had to come up with something better. Obviously I did better so, I’m just happy,” said Murrell.

He was also wearing his lucky pair of sneakers, which had signatures from his loved ones in the US.

“I always wore them in special events like my first

PH. SEAG STATUS

of the Philippine Am ateur Track and Field Association.

His hands-on monitoring of the men and women under his wings and the coaching staff in the 90s - including the later years of Asian heroine Lydia de Vega and Elma Muros Posadas - gave him correct info on the physical and mental preparation of track and field athletes.

Go was jusually mobbed by the sports media for scoops because he throws caution to the winds by predicting how many golds will his wards get in the SEAG.

That is why during his long term as PATAFA big boss - from

1991 till his voluntary retirement in 2015 (please correct me if I got it wrong) - his NSA was always adjudged the winningest in terms of golds wons after the SEAG.

His coaches were very adept in scouting the opposition that is why Go was very well informed and advised.

He also has very good friends in the Asian Athletics Federation where he severally sat as one of the officers.

I think it would be nice if the POC hierarchy requests its member-NSAs to give it and the PSC adequate scouting info because this helps improve and accelerate the training and preparation of

PBA game,” he said. “Back home I had everyone sign my shoes, my dad my mom, all of my friends, everyone who supported me in my journey.”

NLEX’s Brandon Ganuelas Rosser and Chris Lalata of Phoenix also joined the competition but did not make it to the final round.

Pinoy athletes.

In basketball for instance. Did Gilas scout the opposition enough last year to find out which country would provide the defending champs strong challenge enough to dethrone them?

I guess they did not.

It was the lowly Indons - not Malaysia nor Thailand - that surprisingly ambushed Gilas in the finals.

Exactly my point, guys. Pinoys always like to cram. The manana habit or procrastination never produces good results. (Email feedback to fredlumba@ yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!