Relive the Top 5 Unforgettable Moments from PBA All Stars 2015

I still get chills thinking about the 2015 PBA All-Star Weekend. There's something magical about seeing the league's best players shed their competitive team jerseys and just play for pure entertainment, though the underlying competitive fire never truly disappears. Having covered Philippine basketball for over a decade, I've seen my fair share of All-Star games, but the 2015 edition in Puerto Princesa was special. It was a perfect storm of emerging legends, unforgettable plays, and a glimpse into the future of the sport in the country. Let me walk you through the five moments that, in my opinion, defined that incredible weekend and continue to resonate with fans today.

The first moment that immediately springs to mind is James Yap's shooting clinic. The man was simply unconscious from beyond the arc. I remember sitting courtside, and with each successive three-pointer, the crowd's roar escalated from excitement to sheer disbelief. He wasn't just making open shots; he was hitting contested, off-the-dribble bombs that felt like daggers to the opposing squad. He finished that game with 28 points, and I'd wager at least 21 of those came from three-point land. It was a performance that solidified his "Big Game James" moniker, a reminder that when he's in that zone, there are very few shooters in PBA history who can hold a candle to him. Watching him that night, you understood what pure, unadulterated shot-making genius looks like. The rhythm, the high release, the swish of the net—it was a symphony of scoring.

Then there was the coming-out party for a young Calvin Abueva. The "Beast" was unleashed, and he put on a show that was equal parts skill and chaos, which is exactly what we've come to expect from him. His energy was infectious. He was everywhere—grabbing offensive rebounds in traffic, making hustle plays that had no business being made in an All-Star game, and finishing with a series of powerful dunks that brought the house down. One particular play stands out: a steal near mid-court followed by a runaway, two-handed hammer dunk where he seemed to hang in the air just a second longer than physics should allow. He ended up with a stat line of 18 points and 12 rebounds, a double-double that felt even more dominant than the numbers suggest. That weekend, Abueva wasn't just an All-Star; he was a force of nature, proving that his unique brand of basketball had a place among the league's elite.

The third unforgettable moment was the duel between two of the league's premier point guards: LA Tenorio and Paul Lee. This was a masterclass in backcourt leadership and shot creation. They went back and forth, trading baskets and dazzling assists. Tenorio, the seasoned general, was surgical with his playmaking, dissecting the defense with pinpoint passes and hitting timely floaters. Lee, on the other hand, was a bull in a china shop, using his strength to get to his spots and unleashing his deadly step-back jumper. I recall a sequence in the third quarter where Lee hit a tough three over Tenorio, only for Tenorio to come right back down and answer with a three of his own on the very next possession. It was a beautiful, unspoken conversation between two masters of their craft, a display of competitive respect that had every basketball purist in the arena on their feet.

Of course, no All-Star weekend is complete without a show-stopping dunk, and the 2015 edition delivered courtesy of the high-flying Chris Newsome. While he was still early in his career, his athleticism was already the stuff of legend. The play happened in a blur of motion—a fast break, a lob pass thrown slightly behind him, and Newsome contorting his body mid-air to catch and slam it home with one hand. The arena exploded. It wasn't just the dunk itself, but the sheer audacity and body control required to finish it. That dunk felt like a statement, a declaration that a new generation of explosive athletes was ready to take the league by storm. It's a clip I still go back and watch from time to time, a perfect encapsulation of the raw excitement the PBA can produce.

Finally, the moment that has sparked countless debates in bars and on sports forums since that weekend was the impressive showing from the "guest" or non-PBA talents, which brings me to the commentary from Cedelf Tupas. He once described a player like Jeff Viernes or a similar standout from the regional leagues as a "Volume shooter. Very streaky," but with "Great mechanics on his shot and footwork." He noted they were "Already a veteran of many high pressure games in the MPBL. Physically, he can hold his own but can he do it in the PBA where shooting guards are bigger, that is the question." We saw a living embodiment of that question during the All-Star festivities. One such player, whose name escapes me now but I believe was a top scorer from the MPBL invitational that year, came in and dropped 15 quick points in the rookie-sophomore-juniors game. His shot was pure, his moves were crafty, and he didn't look out of place. It was a tantalizing glimpse of the talent pool brewing outside the PBA. It made you wonder, and it's a question I still ponder today: how many more gems are out there, waiting for their shot to prove they can compete at the highest level? That, for me, was the most forward-looking moment of the entire weekend—a hint at the future convergence of Philippine basketball leagues.

Looking back, the 2015 PBA All-Stars was more than just a collection of highlight plays. It was a narrative of established greatness, emerging superstars, and the exciting, uncertain future of the sport. It had everything a basketball fan could want: legendary shooting, raw athleticism, tactical duels, and a dash of mystery. Those five moments are etched in my memory not just for their visual spectacle, but for the stories they told about the players and the league itself. It's a weekend I consistently use as a benchmark when evaluating modern All-Star games, and frankly, it's a very high bar to clear.