PASSI CITY, Iloilo – David Murrell outdueled Tyrus Hill to emerge as the king of the jams in the tightly-contested Slam Dunk Competition in the 2023 PBA All-Star Weekend on Friday at the City of Passi Arena here.
Murrell, a backup forward of Converge FiberXers, scored 92 points on his two dunks in the final to beat Blackwater Bossing rookie Hill, who fell short of the title after ending with just 91 points.
A former University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons winger, Murrell tallied a pair 46 points in the championship round after completing two 360-dunks.
Hill, on the other hand, managed just 41 on his first dunk in the finals when he attempted to copy the slam of NBA legend Vince Carter before scoring a perfect 50 in the second on a dunk over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings’ Jamie Malonzo.
Hill, formerly of De La Salle University Green Archers, also scored a 50 in the first round, enabling him to reach the final along with Murrell, who had a combined score of 92.
Paul Lee, meanwhile, made it back-to-back for Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots in the three-point shootout after ruling this year’s edition of the of side event.
Lee copped the three-point title after finishing with 28 points to beat the 22 points of San Miguel Beermen gunner Marcio Lassiter and 18 of Terrafirma Dyip guard Juan Miguel Tiongson.
Prior to Lee, it was his former teammate Peter June Simon who ruled the PBA three-point competition in 2019 in Calasiao, Pangasinan, the last time the league held an All-Star Weekend prior to pandemic.
TNT Tropang Giga center Dave Marcelo, meanwhile, ended the reign of Rain or Shine Elasto Painters big man Beau Belga in the Big Man Obstacle Challenge event.
Marcelo clinched the title after finishing the finale in 25 seconds to beat Gin Kings center Christian Standhardinger, who fell short with his 27 seconds, and Belga, who is at third with 29 seconds.
The 36-year-old Belga dominated the last two obstacle challenge of the league in 2018 held in Batangas and in 2019 in Calasiao, Pangasinan./PN
