Raymond Almazan wins inaugural three-point shootout for bigs

Raymond Almazan made history as the inaugural Three-Point shootout champion (big men edition) at the PBA All-Star festivities held at the University of St. La Salle gymnasium.

The 6-foot-8 Meralco center showcased his sharpshooting skills by scoring an impressive 19 points in the finals, outshooting competitors Dave Marcelo, rookie Christian David, and Isaac Go.

PBA officials including chairman Ricky Vargas, Commissioner Willie Marcial, and Vice Chairman Bobby Rosales, presented Almazan with the well-deserved P30,000 prize money. The proud champion was joined by his son on the court as he celebrated his victory.

Although David and Go had strong showings in the eliminations with 20 points each, they faltered in the finals, with David scoring 15 and Go finishing with 13 points. Marcelo, on the other hand, gave Almazan a run for his money with 16 points, keeping the competition fierce until the final moments.

The event also featured Keith Zaldivar and new Obstacle Challenge champion JM Calma, both scoring 16 points, along with standout performances from June Mar Fajardo (15), Jason Perkins (14), Leonard Santillan (12), Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser (9), and James Laput (5).

The Three-Point shootout proved to be an exciting addition to the All-Star festivities, showcasing the diverse talents of PBA players beyond their usual roles on the court.