CAGAYAN de Oro, Misamis Oriental, 29 April 2006 — Nelbert Omolon, Sta. Lucia’s under-rated forward, marked his homecoming in a style only he could have pulled off.

The 6-foot-4 played in his college courts for the first time in nearly a decade last night, shooting 38 points in leading the Sophomores to a 133-123 victory over the Rookies in the PBA Blitz Game, a prelude to the annual All-Star Classic, at the Xavier School gym here.

Omolon gave family and friends a rare treat, scoring almost at will from inside and out to win Most Valuable Player honors in the Sophomores’ second straight victory against the Rookies.

“This is special because my parents and relatives are in attendance,” said Omolon, who last stepped on this hardwood in 1997, a few weeks before he left this province for Manila to try his luck in the big leagues.

“The last time I was here, it was so dark you could hardly play at night,” Omolon added. “Now you can all see how beautiful this place is.”

He also failed to mention that his game now suited the international-class court.

The Sophomores were in control all game and save for Nino Canaleta’s crowd-pleasing dunks for the Rookies, the eventual winners had the game under wraps as early as the third period. “There was very little coaching involved,” Sophomores coach Nash Racela said. “We came here to enjoy and we did. We came here to give the crowd a show and we did. And Nelbert (Omolon) came over here with a mission and he accomplished it.”

Canaleta still had a lot of spring in leading the Rookies, scoring on a variety of dunks late in the contest to finish with 34 points.

The Air21 swingman hardly showed signs of slowing down, just hours after romping off with the Slam Dunk title for the second straight year.

The 6-foot-5 Canaleta was again in his elements in the dunk contest, winning over Red Bull’s Cyrus Baguio, the 2004 champion, after getting perfect scores in his three dunks in the eliminations and another 50 in his first attempt in the finals.

Canaleta regaled the crowd with a double-handed windmill coming from in front of the basket in his first try in the finals, and it was enough to hold off Baguio, who tried doggedly hard but fell short.

Coca-Cola guard William Antonio ruled the Three-Point shootout after edging San Miguel’s veteran playmaker Olsen Racela, 21-19, in the finals.

Willie Miller of Talk ‘N Text was king of two events, the Obstacle Challenge and the Trick Shot competition.

“We are glad that the fans had a great time tonight, and this is just the appetizer,” commissioner Noli Eala said.

The All-Star Classic, where the North clashes with the South, will be played at 7 p.m. tomorrow.