Bill on education-labor matching councils filed

February 18, 2024 | 8:31 pm

K12graduates-PHILSTAR-WALTER-BOLLOZOS — K-12 STUDENTS at a high school in Marikina City during their in-person graduation ceremony on July 2, 2022. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ WALTER BOLLOZOS

By Beatriz Marie D. Cruz, Reporter

A BILL seeking to establish “councils” to match high school graduates with potential job opportunities has been filed at the House of Representatives.

House Bill (HB) No. 9808, filed by Las Piñas Rep. Camille A. Villar, is a counterpart measure to Senate Bill No. 2367, originally filed by Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian. The proposed Batang Magaling Act has yet to be approved on second reading.

Under the measure, “Batang Magaling” councils would be mandated to conduct studies on demands in the labor market every three years. Information gained from the study will be used to update and align the school’s curriculum and work immersion programs to the demands of the labor market.

The bill seeks to ensure that “senior high school graduates are equipped with knowledge, training and skills demanded in the labor market, whether they have chosen the higher education, middle-level skills development employment, or entrepreneurship.”

The national council will be composed of representatives from the Education and Labor departments, as well as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

It will also include three national industry players, one labor group, and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines.

Local councils would also be established with at least two local industry players as well as the local school boards.

“The industry partners are enjoined to rethink and review their hiring policies and job requirements to provide employment opportunities, such as entry-level positions, to senior high school graduates,” according to a copy of the bill.

Industry partners with training expenses for Work Immersion Programs will be granted an additional item of deduction from their taxable income under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act.

Congressmen have yet to pass House Bill No. 7893, the proposed Education Pathways Act, where a Grade 10 student may either enroll in senior high school to pursue a college degree or take a technical and vocational (tech-voc) course.

The private sector prefers to hire college or university graduates over those who finish K-12, citing the lack of job readiness of graduates of Grade 12, Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) CEO Conference Committee Chairperson Alma Rita R. Jimenez told a House of Representatives committee last year.

New, broader group vows to defeat ‘most well-funded Cha-cha’ initiative

February 18, 2024 | 8:30 pm

A NEWLY formed anti-Charter change coalition has vowed to defeat any attempt to revise the 37-year-old Philippine Constitution by fighting the move on all levels, one of its convenors said over the weekend.

Former lawmaker Neri J. Colmenares described the No to Cha-Cha Network as the “broadest” coalition of groups opposed to Charter change (“Cha-cha”) and that it is set to conduct public information and education drives, hold mass actions, and file “properly timed” legal actions.

“Cha-cha is no different than other similar self-serving ‘Cha-cha’ attempts before, except that this is the most well-funded and well-organized and therefore most dangerous,” he said in a Viber message.

“It will take out valuable government time, resources and effort from the pressing problems of the people. It will increase the divide between the Senate and the House,” he added, noting that the new group has former government officials as members.

Earlier this month, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. reiterated his support for moves in the Congress to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, which was crafted following a February 1986 uprising that toppled his late father’s dictatorial regime.

The push for “Cha-cha” has been hounded by controversies after a corporation founded in the 1990s launched a people’s initiative, which would allow both houses of Congress to act as a Constituent Assembly and vote jointly.

Following backlashes, the Commission on Elections suspended late last month all proceedings related to the initiative, which is still being investigated by the Senate.

The initiative had been supported by lawmakers, with some even linking it to House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, a cousin of the President.

“Cha-cha” is typically discussed in Congress every year, and it does not help that some lawmakers eye amendments to the Constitution’s political provisions.

“Cha-cha has never been about what’s good for the people but about term extensions and more power to control,” Mr. Colmenares said. “It remains the same today.”

The No to Cha-cha Network, which was launched on Feb. 15, will hold a rally at the EDSA Shrine to mark the 38^th anniversary of the street uprising that sent the former strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos and his family into exile in a US colony.

His only son and namesake had served as a congressman and senator since his return to the Philippines in 1991. He secured over 30 million votes in 2022, making him the first in recent Philippine history to win a presidential election majority.

“Despite the victory of EDSA in 1986, much more remains to be done. The Marcoses, Dutertes and other political dynasties remain entrenched in power,” the group said in a statement.

“An elite few have maintained, if not strengthened, their grip on our economy and political structures. Widespread poverty and injustice remain,” it added. “Chacha does not address these problems.”

The coalition is also convened by former Supreme Court Justice Antonio T. Carpio, former Commission on Audit chair Heidi Macaraan Lloce-Mendoza, former central bank deputy governor Diwa C. Guinigundo, former Finance Undersecretary Cielo D. Magno, former Commission on Human Rights Commissioner Gwen Pimentel-Gana, former Social Welfare Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo, former National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary Liza L. Maza, and 1986 Constitutional Commission member Rene V. Sarmiento, among others.

It also backed by Christian leaders, including Catholic bishop Broderick Pabillo of the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay, Palawan, Catholic bishop Gerardo A. Alminaza of One Negros Ecumenical Council, Benedictine nun Mary John Mananzan, and Mervin Toquero of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines.

The coalition’s convenors also include Catholic priest Daniel Franklin Pilario, who is the president of Adamson University; Anna Maria D. Abad, dean of Adamson University College of Law; Ina Claustro of the Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines; and Reyron del Rosario of the Philippine Innovation Entrepreneurship Mission, Inc.

It is also convened by leaders of the country’s largest labor groups such as Sonny Matula of the Federation of Free Workers, Jerome Adonis of Kilusang Mayo Uno, and Luke Espiritu of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

1% of gov’t budgets eyed for elderly

February 18, 2024 | 8:29 pm

A CONGRESSMAN has filed a bill that would require national government agencies in the Philippines to allocate 1% of their respective budgets for neglected senior citizens programs.

House Bill No. 9837 seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9994, the Expanded Senior Citizens Act.

“Due to lack of funding, implementation of programs for our senior citizens and enactment of supplementary measures often take a standstill,” Bulacan Rep. Salvador A. Pleyto said in the bill’s explanatory note.

The proposed law would “ensure that such programs for senior citizens will have adequate funding and will be implemented efficiently,” Mr. Pleyto, who co-chairs the House Senior Citizens Committee, added.

“The senior citizens sector deserves to be given all the needed assistance the government could provide to remain as active members of the community,” he added.

The National Commission of Senior Citizens has a P79.9-billion budget for this year. The government also allocated P49.89 billion to fund the health insurance of around 8.5 million poor senior citizens.

The number of senior citizens — Filipinos aged 60 and above — have more than doubled to 9.2 million in 2020 from 20 years ago, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Last week, the House Ways and Means and Health committees urged the Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI) and of Agriculture (DA) to increase the discount on basic goods for senior citizens to P125 from the current P65 a week.

Advocates for senior citizens also asked congressmen to include specific provisions on discounts for senior citizens purchasing supplements and paying the toll along different expressways. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Davao wage increased by P19

February 18, 2024 | 8:28 pm

THE DAVAO regional wage board has approved a P19 increase to the daily minimum wage of workers in agriculture and non-agricultural industries, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said on Sunday.

In a statement, the DoLE said the Davao Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board issued the order on Feb. 13 which brings the daily minimum wages to P481 for the non-agricutulre sector and P476 for the agriculture sector.

It will take effect on March 6, but minimum wage earners will receive P19 more as a second tranche on Sept 1.

DoLE said 132,347 minimum wage earners in the region will directly benefit from the wage hike, while 316,558 workers earning above minimum wage will indirectly benefit due to wage distortion adjustments.

The board also approved an order increasing the monthly minimum wage for domestic workers to P1,500 for those in chartered cities and first-class municipalities and P500 for other municipalities. This brings their basic monthly pay to P6,000 and P5,000 respectively.

The move will benefit 64,111 domestic workers, noting about 37% or 23,479 of them work in live-in arrangements.

“The new rates for workers in the private sector translate to a 9% increase from the prevailing daily minimum wage rates in the region and result in a comparable 23% increase in wage-related benefits,” DoLE said.

In June last year, Metro Manila’s daily minimum wage rose by P40 to P610, much lower than the P570 increase sought by some labor groups.

The Senate last week approved on second reading a P100 increase to the minimum wages of workers in the private sector.

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECoP) earlier said the legislated wage hike would only benefit about 10% of the workforce, saying those in the informal sector would not be helped.

“You have a process with the process with the regional wage boards and all of a sudden, you see a legislated wage increase. What do you think investors will say,” ECoP President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr. said by telephone on Feb. 14. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

24 new infra projects under way

February 18, 2024 | 8:28 pm

COTABATO CITY — A total of 24 new infrastructure projects, costing about P173 million, are now being secured and monitored by stakeholders in different barangays to boost the investment potential of the province.

Among these are the construction of anti-flood concrete box culverts, overflow river bridges, concreting of farm-to-market roads, two-storey multi-purpose buildings and barangay halls in remote areas in the 17 towns in Cotabato, a component province of Region 12.

Some of the projects shall benefit residents of the 63 Bangsamoro barangays in different towns in Cotabato, where there are members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front now thriving peacefully as farmers, earning extra income from fishing in the vast Liguasan Delta.

Bankrolled partly by the Economic Development Fund and the 2024 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund of the office of Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño Mendoza, these projects are meant to boost progress in areas where former rebels have returned to the fold of law.

Last year, up to 298 members of the Dawlah Islamiya and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters surrendered in batches.

Recently, the Bangsamoro transportation and communications ministry and the national government’s Office for Transportation Security (OTS) have ironed out system policies and programs for modernizint the Cotabato Airport located in Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte.

“Improving this airport is essential to the Mindanao peace process and to the economic growth of Cotabato City and the nearby municipalities in the second district of Lanao del Sur, in Maguindanao del Norte and in Maguindanao del Sur,” said OTS Director IV Rodelio B. Jocson. — John Felix M. Unson

55% of Filipinos back ICC probe

February 18, 2024 | 8:25 pm

Luneta Park-crowd — PHILIPPINE STAR/WALTER BOLLOZOS

MORE than half of the Filipino population wants the government to cooperate with the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) probe of former president Rodrigo R. Duterte’s deadly war on drugs, according to an OCTA Research poll.

In its Dec. 10-14 survey, OCTA found that 55% of adult Filipinos were in favor of the Philippine government cooperating with the Hague-based tribunal’s investigation of the Duterte administration’s drug war, which had killed thousands of suspects.

On the other hand, 45% are opposed to cooperating with the ICC probe, OCTA said.

“Across different major areas, the percentage of adult Filipinos who favor this idea ranges from 42% to 65%,” it said in a statement on Sunday.

The ICC probe covers crimes committed in Davao City from November 2011 to June 2016 when he was still its mayor, as well as cases during his presidency up until March 16, 2019, the day before the Philippines withdrew from the ICC.

The highest support is in Balance Luzon (65%), while the lowest is in Mindanao (42%),” it added.

Bicol region had the highest approval for cooperation with 79%, while only 6% from Davao region — Mr. Duterte’s bailiwick — wanted the Philippines to cooperate with the ICC.

The pollster interviewed 1,200 adults face-to-face. The poll has a margin of error of ±3% for national percentages and ±6% for regional breakdowns.

Mr. Marcos in January said his government would not, in any way, cooperate with the ICC. But that was before his successor openly attacked his administration and called him a drug addict in a political rally in the southern Philippine city of Davao on Jan. 29.

The OCTA survey also showed 59% of adult Filipinos were in favor of rejoining the ICC, while 41% opposed the idea.

The highest support for rejoining the ICC was recorded in Luzon areas outside Metro Manila with 65%. Mindanao, on the other hand, showed the least support with 51%.

“Regarding socioeconomic classes, the percentage of adult Filipinos who favor the Philippines rejoining the ICC as a member ranges from 58% to 67%, with the highest support from Filipinos belonging to Class ABC (67%),” OCTA said.

Opposition to the idea was highest among those in Class D at 42%.

Mr. Marcos had vowed to shift the focus of the drug war to rehabilitation, but the University of the Philippines Third World Studies Center’s Dahas project had reported that a year into his term, a total of 342 people had been killed by state actors in connection with illegal drugs. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Davao Oriental receives rice aid

February 18, 2024 | 8:25 pm

Gatchalian -Davao-Oriental — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian turned over 400 sacks of rice as assistance to the municipality of Banaybanay in Davao Oriental last Saturday.

DAVAO CITY — Some P16 million worth of rice was turned over by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian to several municipalities in Davao Oriental province that were badly hit by floods and landslides in recent episodes of bad weather.

The assistance from the offices of the senator and the provincial government of Valenzuela City totaled 12,800 sacks of rice and will benefit residents of Banaybanay, Gov. Generoros, San Isidro, Boston, Lupon, Manay, and Caraga.

Davao Oriental Representatives Nelson L. Dayanghirang and Cheeno Miguel D. Almario attended the turnover ceremony at a hotel, here, last Saturday after Mr. Gatchalian inspected areas adversely affected by weather disturbances in Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental, and Agusan del Sur provinces.

“I am coordinating with the LGUs (local government units) if there is a need for more [assistance]… there was a lot of damage to agriculture and many farmers were affected,” he said, during his distribution of rice sacks in Banaybanay, which is considered the rice granary of Davao Oriental.

Mr. Dayanghirang said several bridges and roads were damaged and many areas were also struck by landslides.

Mr. Gatchalian’s Senate Bill No. 939, An Act Expanding The Application Of The Local Disaster Risk Reduction And Management Fund, seeks to amend Republic Act 10121 (The Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010).

Under the bill, LGUs will be given more leeway in implementing projects that would strengthen their disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and rehabilitation capabilities. — Maya M. Padillo

Fajardo, Edu out of Gilas in FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers first window

February 18, 2024 | 7:24 pm

1 of 2

JUNE MAR FAJARDO is out, Japeth Aguilar is in.

Gilas Pilipinas will embark on the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers with only 11 players following the injury to Mr. Fajardo.

“He’s been ruled out with a calf injury,” Gilas coach Tim Cone told the STAR as he confirmed the unavailability of the seven-time PBA MVP for the games against host Hong Kong (Feb. 22) and visiting Chinese-Taipei (Feb. 25).

Mr. Fajardo’s absence leaves youthful Kai Sotto with the primary task of patrolling the shaded area with newly-inserted Mr. Aguilar as partner-backup.

Mr. Aguilar, who wasn’t part of the 12-man lineup handpicked by Mr. Cone for his four-year program, has been enlisted to take the spot of AJ Edu, who is nursing a knee injury.

“No (replacement for June Mar). Japeth (Aguilar) is joining us as a replacement for AJ (Edu). We will go with 11 players,” said Mr. Cone.

The Gilas 11 — Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Jamie Malonzo, Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao, Kai Sotto and Aguilar — wrapped up its four-day training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna.

The Nationals hold an open workout at the PhilSports Arena today, which will serve as their send-off activity for the opening campaign in the Qualifiers.

“Hoping for a great practice tomorrow (Monday), 6 to 8 p.m. Open to the public, no tickets necessary,” Mr. Cone said. “Hope to see everyone there.” — Olmin Leyba

University of Perpetual routs Benilde, 110-91, for third victory in row in NCAA junior basketball

February 18, 2024 | 7:21 pm

Games Wednesday
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
8 a.m.— JRU vs Mapua
10 a.m. — AU vs CSB
12 p.m. — San Beda vs UPHSD
2:30 p.m. — EAC vs SSC-R
4:30 p.m. — Letran vs LPU

THE LONG National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) title quest for the University of Perpetual Help (UPHSD) Junior Altas could end this season.

Eyeing nothing less than a breakthrough championship, UPHSD routed College of St. Benilde (CSB), 110-91, yesterday that kept them at the helm in NCAA Season 99 junior basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

Amiel Acido went on MVP mode and dropped a spectacular 33-point, 10-rebound, five assist and four-steal effort in powering the Junior Altas to their third victory in a row and in a strong position to contend for the title, which would be their first ever if they end up going all the way.

But UPHSD coach John Cleopas liked to take it slow. “I don’t want them to be complacent and not celebrate too much, we want them to stay hungry,” said Mr. Cleopas. “The truth is, we should keep on working hard and respect our opponents.”

Earlier, Colegio de San Juan de Letran downed San Sebastian College, 78-66, and Jose Rizal University (JRU) edged Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU), 85-79.

Just a few days after falling to to the San Beda University Red Cubs, 88-72, the Squires vented their ire on the Staglets in claiming their second win in three starts, the same record the latter wound up with.

The Light Bombers, for their part, drew strength from their mammoth rebounding of Paul Enal and Martin Pineda, who combined for 22 of their team’s 52 caroms, and sweet shooting of Lee Marin, who uncorked 30 points, in seizing their first win in three starts.

It came a couple of days after Messrs. Pineda and Enal plucked 23 and 18 caroms, respectively, when JRU corralled a whopping 79 rebounds, the most by any team in recent years, in a 94-86 defeat to Arellano University. — Joey Villar

The scores:

First Game

JRU 85 — Marin 30, Pineda 12, Enal 11, Almario 9, Castillo 8, Guarino 5, Rivera 5, Pinzon 3, Satparam 2, To 0, Abequibel 0

LPU 79 — Matienzo 16, Melchor 16, Julio 12, Panerio 9, Mulligan 9, Sayaman 7, Timbol 6, Poli 3, Lingoste 1, Dag-um 0, Villa 0, Parinas 0

Quarterscores: 16-16; 40-35; 63-55; 85-79

Second Game

Letran 78 — Silorio 13, Gazzingan 13, Diamante 11, Manalili 11, Navarro 8, Baliling 6, Padilla 6, De Leon 5, Golez 4, Cruz 1, Dela Rama 0, Hugo 0, Reyes 0, Villanueva 0, Alforque 0

San Sebastian 66 — Danag 20, Porcadas 17, Herrera 8, Jimenez 5, Penaverde 5, Bonus 5, Marasigan 4, Jacob 2, Casan 0, Melano 0, Bautista 0, Apostol 0, Bamba 0

Quarterscores: 26-19; 42-34; 62-47; 78-66

Third Game

UPHSD 110 — Acido 33, Valencia 20, Gojo Cruz 12, Daep 10, Callangan 8, Asuncion 8, Ayon 4, Baldoria 4, Pagulayan 3, Borja 3, Bernaldez 3, Diaz 2, Panelo 0, Dela Cruz 0, Cristino 0

CSB 91 — Quines 23, Ison 17, Osis 12, Podador 9, Ortega 7, Sharma 7, Muyuela 3, Nonoy 3, Romero 3, Gomez 3, Tud 2, Abad 2, Natividad 0, Hachuela 0, Peralta 0

Quarterscores: 28-23; 62-49; 88-70; 110-91

TNT eyes PBA 3×3 Season 3 Third Conference crown

February 18, 2024 | 7:20 pm

TNT-TRIPLE-GIGA — TNT TRIPLE GIGA — PBA.PH

MULTI-titled TNT eyes another “grand slam” feather to its cap with nine hungry challengers bent on crashing the Triple Giga party.

The 10 finalists hit the half court of Ayala Malls Glorietta Monday with intense determination to capture the highest honors of the PBA 3×3 Season 3 Third Conference.

The Triple Giga are out to duplicate their clean sweep of the conference crowns of Season 2 and stretch their record run to seventh straight conference.

Tasked to get the job done for the PLDT franchise are Almond Vosotros, Ping Exciminiano, Gryann Mendoza and Chester Saldua, who are seeded into the quarterfinals as incentive for finishing in the Top 4 of the six-leg pre-finals.

The Triple Giga, winner of Leg 5, carry the No. 2 seeding behind Meralco, the winningest team of the conference with triumphs in Legs 1, 3 and 4. Cavitex, the Leg 6 ruler, is No. 3 while Leg 2 kingpin MCFASolver rounds out the Magic 4.

The four elite squads await the four survivors of pool play that begins at 2 p.m.

Fifth seed Blackwater Smooth Razor, No. 8 and Season 1 Second Conference champion Pioneer Elastoseal and No. 9 Terrafirma face off in to dispute the two quarterfinal seats in Pool A while No. 6 San Miguel Beer, No. 7 Purefoods and No. 10 Barangay Ginebra contest the two other Last-8 seats in Pool B.

Meanwhile, the final battle for the PBA Women’s 3×3 Invitational crown serves as a sizzling appetizer to the day’s hostilities.

Top seed Philippine Navy-Go For Gold collides with No. 4 Gilas Pilipinas women’s B in the semifinal opener at 11:30 a.m. followed by the other Final Four duel between No. 2 Uratex and No. 3 Angelis Resort.

Winner proceeds to the winner-take-all championship set at 12:50 p.m. — Olmin Leyba

Iga Swiatek holds off Elena Rybakina to capture third straight Qatar Open crown

February 18, 2024 | 7:18 pm

DOHA — Top seed Iga Swiatek overcame a gritty challenge by world number four Elena Rybakina to take home the Qatar Open title for the third straight year with a 7-6(8) 6-2 victory in Saturday’s final.

The 22-year-old Pole, who raced to her 12^th consecutive match win in Doha, became the first player to capture a singles title at an event in three successive years since Serena Williams triumphed in Miami from 2013-15.

The win also improved her head-to-head record over Ms. Rybakina to 3-2, having lost on all three occasions last year.

Ms. Swiatek endured a slow start as she went 4-1 down in a roller-coaster opening set before the four-times Grand Slam champion slowly found her groove to level things up at 4-4.

After the set went into a tiebreaker, the momentum swung back and forth before Ms. Swiatek wrapped up the 90-minute-long set with a well-executed backhand winner. Ms. Rybakina had taken a medical timeout after hitting her own leg during the opening set and that seemed to hamper the 24-year-old Kazakh as Ms. Swiatek wasted no time to take the second set and secure her first WTA 1000 title of the year.

Despite her defeat, Ms. Rybakina said she had many positives to take from her second final in as many weeks, having won the Abu Dhabi Open last Sunday. — Reuters

Curry rallies to clip Ionescu at All-Star three-point competition

February 18, 2024 | 7:14 pm

STEPHEN CURRY made four of five shots from the right corner to end his round and overtake Sabrina Ionescu to win 29-26 in the special 3-point competition between two prolific shooters during All-Star Saturday Night in Indianapolis.

Mr. Curry accepted the challenge from the WNBA star to engage in the competition and both players were sharp. Ms. Ionescu, a star for the WNBA’s New York Liberty, started on the left side of the court and made nine of her first 10 shots.

She wasn’t able to keep up the sharp pace and went five of 11 from the right side of the top of the key.

Mr. Curry, the Golden State Warriors’ star, didn’t start as fast as Ms. Ionescu but made up ground by hitting all five shots from the right wing before moving past Ms. Ionescu from the right corner.

In the regular 3-point shooting contest, Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks prevailed for the second straight year. He is the first repeat winner since Jason Kapono of the Toronto Raptors won in 2007-08.

Mr. Lillard compiled 26 points in the final round, edging 2022 champion Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks. Both Mr. Towns and Mr. Young had 24 points.

The competition went down to the wire as Mr. Lillard had 24 points as he went to the left corner for the rack of five balls. He missed the first four shots before sinking the winner on his last attempt.

Lillard, Towns, Young and Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers all made 26 in the first round — a four-way tie for the three spots. A 30-second tiebreaker was held and Mr. Haliburton was eliminated.

Lauri Markkanen (25 points) of the Utah Jazz, Jalen Brunson (24) of the Dallas Mavericks, Donovan Mitchell (21) of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Malik Beasley (20) of the Bucks were eliminated in the first round.

In the Skills Challenge, Team Pacers won in a halfcourt shot tiebreaker over Team All-Stars.

Mr. Haliburton sank a halfcourt shot with 20.5 seconds left in the 60-second overtime to give Team Pacers the win. Myles Turner and Bennedict Mathurin were the other members. — Reuters