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Arayi, Almazan shine as women's basketball debuts in PBA All-Star games

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/sports/8/7/080716-arayi.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Ewon Arayi had 13 points for the Light team. Josh Albelda, <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/basketball/photos" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Sports</a></div></figcaption></figure></div><div>MANILA, Philippines – In a historic moment for women&#x27;s basketball, the PBA included as part of its All-Star festivities a full-court, 5-on-5 game featuring players from the its 3x3 league.</div>Ana Almazan and Ewon Arayi starred for the Light team in its 43-35 victory over the Dark team led by Ara Abaca and Chovi Borja.Almazan had 14 points and seven rebounds, while Arayi had 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in the victory.The Light team was in control most of the way, until Arayi was forced to sit midway through the first half due to foul trouble.The Dark team made its move with Arayi out, with Borja in particular forcing her way through the paint to draw free throws. Her two charities with 3:10 left in the first half made it a one-point game, 11-12.Cecille Junsay restored order for the Light team, as she drilled jumpers in the final two minutes to give her team a 19-12 cushion heading into the break.The Dark team was able to cut the deficit to five points, 20-25, off spectacular lay-ups from Abaca, who drew oohs and aahs from the crowd with her inside buckets.But Arayi and Almazan were simply too much, as they drained back-to-back triples to push the lead to double-digits, 37-24, with less than four minutes left, and the Light team cruised from that point on.Abaca finished with 10 points for the Dark team, while Borja had seven markers.(READ: <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/basketball/news/2016/08/07/pba-stars-give-fans-basketball-fair-14057" target="_blank">PBA stars give out to fans with basketball fair</a>) In the Shooting Stars Challenge, Jericho Cruz&#x27;s team scored the victory after finishing the course with 48 seconds to spare. The Rain or Shine guard teamed up with women&#x27;s All-Star Tanya dela Merced, Batang PBA&#x27;s Stacey Tibayan, and a fan.Terrence Romeo&#x27;s team was 10 seconds off the pace, while Scottie Thompson&#x27;s team failed to finish within the allotted time.It was Jericho who won the challenge for his team when he drained a half-court shot with still 48 seconds to go.For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Sports website.</a>

In a historic moment for women's basketball, the PBA included as part of its All-Star festivities a full-court, 5-on-5 game featuring players from the its 3x3 league.

In a historic moment for women's basketball, the PBA included as part of its All-Star festivities a full-court, 5-on-5 game featuring players from the its 3x3 league.