Magnolia teammates Paul Lee and Aris Dionisio emerged this early as the favorites to top the first-ever twin three-point shootout contest in the Philippine Basketball Association  All-Star festivities.

Lee is out to defend the title he won in spectacular fashion last year in Passi City, Iloilo, while Dionisio appeared to be the early frontrunner in taking the crown in the special three-point contest featuring 12 of the league's big men.

The 35-year-old Lee scored 28 points during the finals and bested Marcio Lassiter of San Miguel and Terrafirma's Juami Tiongson in winning his first long distance shootout title.

Lassiter will again crowd out the Magnolia guard in this year's edition of the All-Star weekend in Bacolod City from 23 to 24 March, together with two-time champion James Yap (Blackwater), Maverick Ahanmisi (Barangay Ginebra), Aleck Stockton (Converge), Chris Newsome (Meralco), Tyler Tio (Phoenix) and Arvin Tolentino (Northport).

Completing the cast among the guards and wingmen are Andrei Caracut (Rain or Shine), Rob Herndon (NLEX), Javi Gomez de Liano (Terrafirma) and Calvin Oftana (NLEX).