02 - FINALS PBA ALL STAR 2008 3PT SHOOTOUT - DON DON...
02 - FINALS PBA ALL STAR 2008 3PT SHOOTOUT - DON DON HONTIVEROS
Philippine Basketball Association
BACOLOD CITY. -- After finishing second in the Three-Point Shootout thrice from 2003 to 2005, fourth in 2006 and a disappointing eighth last year, Talk 'N Text three-point artist Ren-Ren Ritualo finally earned the distinction of being the league's best long distance shooter Friday night in the 2008 Smart PBA All-Star Week Skills Competitions at the West Negros University Gym here.
In one of the closest battles in the history of the event, Ritualo fired 19 points in the Finals to narrowly edge defending champion Dondon Hontiveros of Magnolia, who tallied 18, and Coca-Cola's John Arigo who registered 17.
"Sabi nga nila, 'Try and try until you succeed,' saka 'Never give up. Mabuti naman nanalo na rin sa wakas,'" said a beaming Ritualo, who won a beautifully crafted plaque and P20,000.
"Nakatulong din na nauna ako dun sa 19 na yun sa Finals kaya naging kampante na ako," added Ritualo who shot first in the Finals after coming up with the third-best score of 17 in the eliminations.
In the Finals, Ritualo came up with his 19 by sinking seven of his first 10 balls in the first two racks and converting four of the five twp-point balls.
Hontiveros, who won last year's even with a score of 16 in the Finals beating Alaska's Willie Miller and Air21's Gary David, had his Waterloo in the second and third racks, converting only three of the 10 balls en route to that 18. He also had 18 in the elims.
Arigo, who has yet to see action for the Tigers in the ongoing Smart Fiesta Conference, did the same in the elimination round, by shooting first and coming up with a 20 to put pressure on the rest of the participants.
But in the Finals where he shot last among the finalists, Arigo started slow, missing four of his first five shots before sinking eight of his next nine to get back in the thick of things. But it didn't help that Arigo missed on the last two 2-point balls, any one of which would have forced a 30-second playoff shootout with Ritualo. (FM)
idol..
kung pinsan nyo po siya,bakit wala po kayo roon?