Mindanao starts 2018 All-Star Games with big win over Gilas

PJ Simon scored 17 points and Mindanao dominated Gilas Pilipinas in the fourth period for the win. (PBA Images)

Mindanao stood its ground Wednesday in Davao del Sur, taking huge 144-130 win over Gilas Pilipinas to officially start the 2018 PBA All-Star Week.

Baser Amer came off the bench to score a team-high 22 points, 13 in the fourth, as Mindanao broke the game open in the final 12 minutes, giving head coach Tim Cone his first All-Star win since 1999.

Behind its persky group of guards, Mindanao dropped a 17-0 run in the fourth as Gilas, rebranded for these Games as the Smart PBA All-Stars, never recovered. Mindanao led by as many as 21 points.

After Amer, Mark Barroca started and dropped 20 points. PJ Simon scored 17.

Gilas Pilipinas got 34 big points from June Mar Fajardo but the national team failed to impose its will on the Mindanao crew. Japeth Aguilar finished for 25 points.

The national team, who never lost in the All-Star Games last year, will next face the Luzon All-Stars in Batangas on Friday.