NBA Review: All-Star Friday

All-Star Friday was a big treat for NBA fans across the globe. This edition of the All-Star Break featured some tweaks to the rules.

Sprint All-Star Celebrity Game| EAST def. WEST 60-56

Nobody actually knew US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan had mad ballin' skills.

Until last Friday.

Duncan led the East to a 60-56 win with a record 20 points, while grabbing 11 rebounds and 6 assists, the last of which was a beautiful behind-the-head pass to a cutting Skylar Diggins of the WNBA.

A few possessions later, it was Diggins' turn to dish out the ball. She found Romeo Miller (musician/actor) for a wide-open triple that put the game away for the East.

Over-dribbler Kevin Hart (comedian) was voted MVP by the fans, but he humbly gave the award to the true MVP, Arne Duncan of the US Department of Education.

BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge | HILL def. WEBB 142-136

This might be the most thrilling Rising Stars Challenge in history.

While double-double machine Andre Drummond (DET) earned MVP Honors with 30 points and a Rising Stars record-high 25 boards for Team Hill, the game will be most remembered for the duel between Team Hill's Dion Waiters (CLE) and Team Webber's Tim Hardaway Jr. (NYK).

During a three-minute shootout, Waiters and Hardaway Jr. exchanged threes after threes like two boxers. Hardaway Jr. opened it up to put Team Webber ahead 101-99 and ended with a 114-112 count in favor of Team Hill via two freethrows by Waiters.

Hardaway Jr., who finished with a game-high 34 points, hit two more triples, but Waiters, who had 31 markers and 7 assists, had the last laugh, scoring eight consecutive points.

2013 1st overall pick Anthony Davis (NOP) of Team Webber also had a shining moment during the first half. After blocking a Jonas Valanciunas (TOR) hook shot, he sprinted to their side of the court, leaving Valanciunas on his heels. He then completes a dunk of a Victor Oladipo (ORL) lob.

Highlights of the game can be seen here.

Rain or Shine draws first blood

Sports5 file/Pranz Kaeno Billones

Paul Lee, struggling or not, is a definite threat during clutch time.

With .9 ticks on the clock, Lee nailed an inbound alley-oop pass to lift Rain or Shine up over San Mig Coffee to draw first blood in their finals showdown, 83-80, on Valentine's Day.

The game was a close one, with Rain or Shine not gaining enough ground over San Mig Coffee. Where the E-Painters went, the Mixers seemed to be always close by, stalking within striking distance.

Rain or Shine was still up, 69-67, when San Mig Coffee, led by back-up guards Alex Mallari and Justin Melton, unleashed a 9-1 flurry to gain the lead, 76-70.

But the Elasto Painters were quick to recover, and two back-to-back triples by Gilas wingman Jeff Chan sparked a 8-0 counterattack to relinquish the lead, 78-76.

Not wanting to let up, Tim Cone put his starters back. Mixers undisputed star, James Yap, answered the call, nailing two consecutive jumpers to put his squad ahead, 80-78.

Chan miffed a three-ball in the ensuing play, but scrappy forward Jervy Cruz recovered the loose ball and made a hook shot over veteran forward Marc Pingris. The score is tied, 80-80

Cone drew up a play for Yap, but point guard Mark Barocca deviated from the play and took matters into his own hands. His plan was foiled, however, and, Rain or Shine had one more chance to put the game away.

Then came Lee's fateful shot, which surprisingly wasn't the original play designated. Guiao's play was supposed to be a three by Chan off a Lee screen. But Gabe Norwood saw Lee open, and the man dubbed Angas ng Tondo did not fail Norwood.

San Mig Coffee called an extra timeout, resulting in a made technical free-throw by Lee. Their desperation heave was also futile.

Key Statline

The Key Statline of the Game goes to Jervy Cruz, the former King Tiger out of University of Santo Tomas. Cruz scored 15 points, including a game-tying hook shot. He also grabbed 7 rebounds, an effective Field Goal percentage of 77.8%, and a Game Score of 13.8.

Game Score Formula: PTS + .4 x FGm -.7 x FGa - .4 x (FTa-FTm) +.7 x OREB + .3 x DREB + STL + .7 x AST + .7 x BLK - .7 x PFs - TOV

Effective Field Goal % Formula : (FGm + .5 x 3PTm) divided by FGA