While the rain poured outside on Sunday, July 20, it also rained threes inside the Smart Araneta Coliseum during the Star Magic All-Star Games 2025.
Just like a full-blown storm, the much-awaited rematch between the Star Magic Shooting Stars and Cong TV’s ANBILIBABOL Basketbol Team, who first clashed on the All-Star court in 2023, came in strong and hit even harder. The buildup was pure entertainment, from the Shooting Stars’ unexpected entrance disguised as Fuego Eterno dancers, to Team Payaman’s surprise musical production and savage 'trash talk' showdown.
But the real heat kicked in when the ball got in play, as both teams turned up the intensity with fast breaks, tight defense, and high-energy plays that had the crowd roaring. And in the middle of all that action, the three-pointers kept flying.
Here’s a rundown of every three-pointer that sent the crowd roaring and kept the scoreboard sizzling.
For the Shooting Stars, Elyson de Dios and JV Capunan were two of the team's most bankable players in delivering clean three-pointers. Elyson's shots came with that signature calm, while JV, last year's MVP, proved he was still in form this year. Team Captain Donny Pangilinan also showed his range with a smooth three that sent the crowd into kilig chaos. Kobie Brown joined the sharpshooters' list, as well rookie JM Ibarra.
But ANBILIBABOL wasn't going to let the Shooting Stars have all the fun. Burong made noise early. Patrick, Cong TV, and Boss King each hit threes of their own, keeping their side alive during critical runs. Nelson nearly stole the title with his late-game three-point attempts. One in particular could’ve tied the match in the final minute, but despite the miss, the tension and crowd’s reaction just showed that he was a threat until the very end.
If you missed the game, here’s a quick recap of the thrilling hardcourt rematch:
The event tipped off with Boss Keng, Nelson, Carding, Chris, and Cong TV as the starting five for ANBILIBABOL, while Diego Gutierrez, Ashton Salvador, Argel Saycon, Elyson and Donny opened for the Shooting Stars. Although the first possession went to the Shooting Stars, it was Team Payaman who struck first, thanks to Chris sinking the game’s opening basket.
The score remained close early on, with both teams tying at 4-4 during the first timeout. Team ANBILIBABOL clearly came prepared, running the court with relentless stamina and strong defensive plays. But it didn’t take long before the Shooting Stars found their rhythm. As their shots started sinking in one after another, the Shooting Stars pulled ahead to 20 while ANBILIBABOL got stuck at 9 points. However, Burong finally broke the dry spell for Team Payaman as he nailed their first three-pointer of the match. At the end of the first quarter, the Shooting Stars led, 21-14.
In the second quarter, the Shooting Stars rotated in a fresh lineup—Marc Nanninga, Joao Constancia, BGYO Mikki, Seth Fedelin, and JM—giving their first-string players a breather. ANBILIBABOL took advantage, tightening their defense and capitalizing on their opponents’ "less seasoned" lineup. Although the tide shifted once more as River Joseph and Ashton re-entered the court for the Shooting Stars, still, ANBILIBABOL’s intensity was undeniable. The second quarter ended with a closer margin, 39-31, still in favor of the Shooting Stars.
Entering the third quarter, Team Payaman was down by eight. The game started to get more physical as both teams fought harder for every possession. JV, last year’s MVP, stepped up and turned more aggressive in scoring, helping the Shooting Stars widen the gap. Team chemistry became the Shooting Stars’ weapon, with game commentators Migs Bustos and Ricci Rivero praising River’s slick assist to Kobie Brown, who completed the play with a clean basket. . The quarter ended with the Shooting Stars comfortably ahead, 63-50.
The fourth quarter opened with Team Payaman trailing by 13, but they weren’t going down without a fight. They slowly chipped away at the lead, cutting it down to four with just over six minutes left. Fueled by crowd energy and clutch plays, they managed to bring the game to a tie at 65 with under four minutes on the clock. That’s when both teams brought in their “energy guys” to shift the momentum. The Shooting Stars, whose offense had turned stagnant, needed a reset, while ANBILIBABOL found their groove and continued to push.
With just two minutes to go and only two points separating the teams, the tension inside the venue reached fever pitch. JV pushed the Shooting Stars forward, while Nelson became the go-to guy for Team Payaman. Nelson nearly turned the tides with a potential game-tying three, but the shot missed its mark, plus an offensive foul was called right after. Team Payaman still went for the win, attempting another three amid a chaotic scramble, but the Shooting Stars held on.
The pressure was on, with just 31 seconds left and a slim three-point lead by Shooting Stars. Nelson went for another deep shot to even the score, but it missed the mark, giving the Shooting Stars what they needed to seal the deal as the Star Magic All-Star Games 2025 Champions.
Meanwhile, Cong’s ANBILIBABOL Team proudly accepted their 1st runner-up trophy, which was a well-deserved recognition for their never-say-die spirit.
Argel was hailed as the Most Valuable Player (MVP), while JM took home the Rookie of the Year title. The Mythical 5 honors went to Shooting Stars' Argel, JV, and Donny, and from Team ANBILIBABOL, Nelson and Patrick.
Team Star Magic Shooting Stars was led by coach Gerald Anderson, while ANBILIBABOL had Cong TV pulling double duty as their playing coach.