TWO in a row.

Team Greats made it back-to-back victories following a 142-133 win over Team Stalwarts in the PBA All-Star Blitz Game at the University of La Salle gymnasium in Bacolod City.

Justin Arana was the man of the hour for Team Greats, finishing with 36 points and eight rebounds.

He was later was named as the MVP of the Rookies/Sophomores/Juniors All-Stars.

Last year, Team Greats also secured an inspiring 158-138 win over Team Stalwarts in Passi City, Iloilo.

“Ang mindset ko talaga ayaw kong mag 1-1. Gusto ko 2-0 talaga,” said Arana, last year’s Rookie of the Year, who received P30,000 for his MVP feat, in an interview posted on the official PBA website.

Arana’s 36 points is the most points in Greats vs Stalwarts series since Encho Serrano scored 40 in a losing cause last year.

Team Greats of coach Patrick Partosa pocketed the P100,000 as the top prize.

Sophomore Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser contributed 23 points, highlighted by a 3-points dunk, while Jerrick Ahanmisi had 21 points, iincluding a four-point play in the third quarter when Team Greats finally took control of the match.

Rookie Kim Aurin of TNT led the Team Stalwarts in scoring as he finished with 23 points.

JM Calma of Northport added 22 points for coach Peter Martin.

Calma earlier won the Obstacle Challenge.

Team Stalwarts settled for P50,000.

Meanwhile, he Negros Occidental High School became the latest beneficiary of the PBA’s generosity.

The 48-year-old pro league donated P500,000 to the oldest educational institution in the province when it visited the school on Friday as part of its All-Star festivities program. The event is presented by Arena Plus.

Commissioner Willie Marcial along with members of both Team Japeth Aguilar and Team Mark Barroca handed out the customized giant check through the kindness of ArenaPlus and Nustar in cooperation with the Alagang PBA.

The donation was made unannounced to the surprise of the entire school, which gave the PBA delegation a warm reception upon its arrival.

“Malaki pong karangalan sa PBA na kami ay ma-imbitahan dito. Maraming- maraming salamat po sa mainit ninyong pagtanggap sa amin,” said Marcial.

Seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo gave an inspirational message to both students and school officials who made up the jampacked crowd present during the event.

“Kaming mga nandito sa harap ninyo, galing din kami diyan na kagaya ninyo at nag-aral ding mabuti. Kaya sana ipag-patuloy ninyo ang pag-aaral ninyo,” the 34-year-old San Miguel star told his audience.

All-Star team captains Barroca and Aguilar were in attendance during the hour-long program that saw an impromptu dance number provided by Calvin Abueva, Chris Newsome, Marcio Lassiter, Jio Jalalon, and Aris Dionisio.

The scores:

Team Greats (142) — Arana 36, Ganuelas-Rosser 23, Ahanmisi 21, Stockton 9, Tuffin 8, Ildefonso 8, Laput 8, Caracut 8, Ilagan 8, Mamuyac 6, Cu 5, Gomez de Liano 2.
Team Stalwarts (133) — Aurin 23, Calma 22, Munzon 16, David 15, Yu 12, Santillan 12, Asistio 8, Zaldivar 7, Holt 7, Nocum 6, Amores 5.
Quarterscores: 39-45,78-73, 109-106, 142-133.