CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur — Meralco Bolts center Brandon Bates emerged as the surprise champion of the Big Man Obstacle Challenge during the PBA Season 50 All-Star Friday on March 6, 2026.
Known primarily for his defensive presence, the 6-foot-9 Bates showcased unexpected agility and touch at the Candon City Arena.
- The Winning Time: Bates clocked in at 22.86 seconds in the final round.
- The Podium: He edged out Brandon Ramirez of the NLEX Road Warriors (27.26 seconds) and James Laput of the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots (45.69 seconds).
- The Turning Point: Laput, who had been leading early in the final, was penalized and forced to repeat his layup after using his right hand instead of his required left, allowing Bates to surge ahead and seal the victory with a first-attempt one-handed jumper.
Bates reached the finals by eliminating Abu Tratter (Blackwater) in the opening round and Henry Galinato (TNT) in the semifinals. The victory was a massive upset, as defending champion JM Calma (San Miguel) was knocked out in the very first round by Barangay Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar.
Following his win, Bates was humble about the achievement, jokingly attributing his performance to “beginner’s luck” and a pre-event snack.
“I was shocked, to be honest. I thought I would be out in the first round… but absolutely, it was the popcorn,” Bates quipped, referring to what he called his “lucky” snack.
For his victory, Bates took home a plaque and a ₱30,000 cash prize.
The Obstacle Challenge for Big Men kicked off a night of skills events that also saw Jerrick Ahanmisi (Terrafirma) make history by winning both the Guards’ Obstacle Challenge and the Three-Point Shootout in the same night.