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Despite the heavy downpour and cold weather on Sunday, July 20, the intense and scorching action at the Big Dome in Quezon City still pushed through, as Star Magic artists, professional volleyball players, and Team Payaman battled it out in the “back-to-back ball bakbakan” of the star-studded and jam-packed Star Magic All-Star Games 2025.
Hosted by the trio of AI Dela Cruz, Robbie Jaworski, and Jarren Garcia, with MJ Felipe and Aiyana Perlas serving as courtside reporters, the much-awaited annual sporting event of avid Kapamilya fans began with the parade of athletes, featuring the players of Star Magic Smashers and Aces for the men’s volleyball games, as well as players of Star Magic Lady Spikers and Lady Setters.
“Tawag ng Tanghalan: The School Showdown” grand winner Carmelle Collado sang the Philippine national anthem, “Love at First Spike” star Reign Parani led the prayer, while BINI member Mikha Lim recited the athlete’s oath. ABS-CBN Business Unit Head Reily Santiago was the one in charge of delivering the opening remarks.
Men’s volleyball game
For the first-ever men’s volleyball match of Star Magic All-Star Magic Games, two teams went head-to-head.
Star Magic Smashers were comprised of “Pinoy Big Brother Gen 11” alumni Patrick Ramirez, Binsoy Namoca, and Dylan Yturralde, actor Marc Santiago; and professional players Giles Torres, Kiel Castillo, and JM Ronquillo.
Meanwhile, Star Magic Aces was composed of PBB alumni Dingdong Bahan and Zach Guerrero, “Love At First Spike” actor Bong Gonzales, “Saving Grace: The Untold Story” actor PJ Endrinal, BGYO members Akira Morishita and JL Torreliza, and pro players Ariel Cacao and Rex Intal.
The Star Magic Aces got the first set, 25-23, while the Star Magic Smashers took the lead in the second set, 25-19. In the end, it was the Smashers who dominated the game with 16-14 points, making them the champions, while the Aces were first runner-up.
Marc Santiago of the Smashers was named “Rookie of the Year,” while Bong, JL, Akira, Dylan, Giles, and Patrick were hailed as the Mythical Five. Patrick Ramirez was declared the most valuable player for the men’s volleyball tournament.
Women’s volleyball game
After the interview of guest courtside reporters MJ Felipe and Aiyana Perlas with the cast of iWant original series “Ghosting,” top-billed by “PBB Gen 11” ex-housemates JM Ibarra and Fyang Smith, the Star Magic volleybelles took on the center court.
Comprising the Star Magic Spikers were AI Dela Cruz, Leona Andalio, Janah Zaplan, Angela Ken, Carmella Ford, Vivoree, Fyang Smith, Loisa Andalio, Analain Salvador and pro players Lams Lamina and Bella Belen.
On the other hand, Jas Dudle-Scales, Isabel Laohoo, Rans Rifol, Reign Parani, Rain Celmar, Anji Salvacion, BINI Mikha, and pro volleybelles Ivy Lacsina and Angel Canino made up the Star Magic Lady Setters.
The Lady Spikers may be the first ones to score in their match, but it was the Lady Setters who got the initial set, 23-25. However, the Lady Spikers were able to make up for their loss after beating the Lady Setters in the second set, which closed at 25-23. As their game pushed to the third set, the Lady Spikers were able to continue their streak as they finished it with 15 points against the Lady Setters’ 11 points.
Due to this victory, the Lady Spikers received their fifth championship trophy, which is the same number of medals that their team captain, Analain, had received as the MVP. She was also part of the Mythical 6, alongside Reign, Mikha, Rain, Carmella, and Janah. Meanwhile, Fyang immediately made a positive impression on her Star Magic All-Star Games debut, as she clinched the “Rookie of the Year” title.
Before proceeding to the main event, courtside reporters MJ and Aiyana then had the chance to catch up with some of the cast of the iWant original series “Love At First Spike,” led by Emilio Daez, River Joseph, and Reign Parani.
They also spoke with Emilio and River’s “PBB Celebrity Collab Edition” ex-housemates who were present at the venue, namely, Bianca De Vera, Ralph De Leon, Xyriel Manabat, AZ Martinez, Michael Sager, Vince Maristela, and Dustin Yu. The clique promoted their forthcoming “The Big ColLove Fancon,” happening on August 10 at the Araneta Coliseum, too, by giving us samples of what attendees could expect at the much-awaited show.
Three days after being officially launched, upcoming Pinoy pop group WRIVE, which is managed by ABS-CBN Polaris-Star Magic, entertained spectators with their upbeat performance of their original song “Ooh La La,”
Main event
After winning against them in last year’s Star Magic All-Star Games, Star Magic Shooting Stars once again came face-to-face with Team Payaman’s Anbilibabol Basketbol in their highly anticipated rematch in the men’ basketball event.
The first ones to enter the hardcourt were Cong TV’s team, with content creator-slash-impersonator Krissy Achino as their muse. Their incredible line-up was comprised of Patrick Bernal, Kuya Mike, Cris, Igme, Sunny Jay, Nelson Mendoza, Matthaios, Mentos, Bok, Carding, Burong, Steve, Dudut, Boss Keng, Yow, and Junnie Boy, with their playing coach Cong Velasquez as their frontrunner.
On the other hand, the Shooting Stars were ushered in by their muses, “PBB Gen 11” Big Placers Kai Montinola and Kolette Madelo. However, instead of simply parading from their dugout to the court, the players and assistant coaches of the Star Magic team joined “Pilipinas Got Talent Season 7” semi-finalist Fuego Eterno in an enigmatic dance performance.
Their lineup was eventually unveiled to include Ashton Salvador, Marc Nanninga Jr, Rocky Labayen, Elyson de Dios, Argel Saycon, Tristan Ramirez, JV Kapunan, Kobie Brown, Joao Constancia, BGYO Mikki Claver, Diego Gutierrez, Emilio Daez, JM Ibarra, River Joseph, Seth Fedelin, and Donny Pangilinan. “Sins of the Father” lead actor Gerald Anderson was their head coach.
A subtly savage “trash talk” ensued between the Gerald-Donny and Cong-Junnie Boy tandems right before their showdown started, with Team Payaman astonishing and amusing everyone with a surprise song and dance production number through which the team captain-cum-playing coach conveyed his fiery message to Donny, Gerald, and the rest of the Shooting Stars.
Team Anbilibabol’s starting five were Patrick, Cris Lagudas, Cong TV, Boss Keng, and Nelson Mendoza, while it was Donny, Diego, Elyson, Argel, and Ashton for the Shooting Stars. The Star Magic artists were able to immediately take the lead in the first quarter after posting a seven-point advantage against Team Payaman, 21-14. To further give encouragement to her beloved “Donato,” Belle Mariano uttered a kilig message for him from the side court during a brief interview with Aiyana.
The Shooting Stars continued to derail Team Anbilibabol in the second quarter, as the first half of their match closed with the scores 39-31.
Carmelle Collado returned to the center court for the halftime show, as she performed a medley of Little Mix songs, namely “Black Magic,” “Salute,” and “Power,” impressing us with her song and dance prowess alongside “It’s Showtime’s” Baby Dolls.
It was Kobie’s buzzer-beater three-point shot that capped off the third quarter and expanded the Shooting Star’s advantage to 13 points as it ended 50-63. Many surely got thrilled during the 4th quarter as Team Payaman was able to keep up with Team Star Magic, to the point that their scores had tied. With bated breaths, we’d watched the two rivals fight over the possession of the ball until the last few seconds.
But in the end, it was still the Shooting Stars who emerged as this Star Magic All-Star Games Men’s Basketball grand champions after Team Anbilibabol missed their needed shots to supposedly at least stretch the game to overtime. Their rematch was sealed at 70-73.
As if by a stroke of fate, it was JM Ibarra who was named “Rookie of the Year,” just like his loveteam partner Fyang. Meanwhile, it was Argel Saycon who was hailed as the MVP, along with being part of the Mythical 5 together with Shooting Stars teammates JV Kapunan and Donny Pangilinan, as well as Team Anbilibabol’s Nelson Mendoza and Patrick Bernal.
The Star Magic All-Star Games 2025 concluded with Nation’s Girl Group BINI’s much-awaited live performance of their newest tracks, “Out of My Head” and “Shagidi.”