James Laput will be having a pretty busy Saturday for the PBA All-Star Weekend in Bacolod--Team Stalwarts vs Team Greats, Obstacle Challenge, and the Three-Point Shootout.
The last time James Laput participated in the PBA All-Star Game, he had an early exit.
It was the Obstacle Challenge in Passi City back in 2023, and he lost in the first round to Jeepy Faundo.
"I wanna redeem myself at the Obstacle Challenge. I like to have a better run with that," he shared after practice.
But this big man knows to have some fun. And he wants to succeed in an unlikely event.
"Oddly enough, I wanna be good on the Three-Point Challenge. I think it would be quite funny. Someone with zero attempts in a game, doing well in a Three-Point Challenge? I think that would be quite funny," Laput said, grinning.
He has not made a single three-point attempt in this conference, and the last one, and the whole season before that. He's open to try it now.
The big man edition of the Three-Point Challenge was conceptualized, after a lot of the initial participants of the Slam Dunk competition sustained injuries.
"Parang masaya 'to kung magiging successful 'to. Sasama pa natin sa Slam Dunk Contest [in the future], sasama rin natin Three-Point Contest ng bigs," Commissioner Willie Marcial said.
It's going to be a pretty busy Saturday for Laput, who also has to participate for Team Greats.
"Just gotta ride the wave, go with the flow. I'm sure my body can take it all. Just enjoy lang," he said.
Team Greats was having a lot of fun in practice, hollering and cheering with each great dunk.
"We're gonna turn it on tomorrow, play real hard defense. We're gonna take it to them, fun today, business tomorrow," Laput shared during the practice on Friday.
They even had a half-court contest good for a P1,000 pot. Only, three of them made it.
"I did think the rim is a bit wide today," Laput joked. "We better freaking make our shots tomorrow. Everyone was making their shots today. That surprised me a little bit."
The Skills Challenge will take place this Saturday, March 23, starting at 3 p.m. The Team Stalwarts vs Team Greats will start at 6:15 p.m.
These will air on RPTV, PBA Rush, and the Pilipinas Live app.