A FORMER champion and the 2017 NCAA title holder are out to give reigning king Chris Newsome of Meralco a run for his money in the coming slam dunk contest of the PBA All-Star week.
Rey Guevarra of Phoenix and rookie Lervin Flores of Globalport are part of the eight-man cast out to challenge Newsome for his title in one of the featured side events of the mid-season classic, with Phoenix Fuel with Phoenix Pulse Technology as major sponsor.
Before Newsome won last season’s edition, Guevarra held the throne three straight years from 2014 to 2016. He also competed in the contest a year ago, but only managed to place third as Newsome and James Forrester went mano-a-mano in the finals held at the Lucena Convention Center.
Flores, meanwhile, ruled the NCAA slam dunk last year, while playing for Arellano University, beating out Renato Ular and Justine Gutang for the title.
Others included in the slam dunk competition also backed up by Peak Sports Apparel, Rain or Shine, Molten, PBA RUSH-Cignal and Nature’s Spring mineral water, are Matt Ganuelas Rosser (San Miguel), Marion Magat (Alaska), Jackson Corpuz (Columbian Dyip), and Renz Palma (Blackwater).
Newsome for his part, is out to make history as he bids to become only the fifth player to win the slam dunk crown twice after Meralco teammate KG Canaleta (five), Guevarra (three), TNT Katropa’s Kelly Williams (two), and PBA great Vergel Meneses (two), who was the inaugural winner in 1992 while still donning the Presto jersey.
This year’s All-Star side events will be held in Batangas City during the second phase of the annual spectacle on May 25 pitting the national men’s team against the PBA Luzon selection.