Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
Charismatic guard Scottie Thompson and four-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo emerged as the top players in the first 2018 PBA All-Star voting returns.
The third-year Ginebra guard from Digos, Davao del Sur amassed league-leading 17,851 votes from 17,573 online votes and 278 in-venue ballots to lead the Mindanao All-Stars.
The Cebuano giant, meanwhile, showed the way for the Visayas All-Stars with his 17,498 votes built from 17,250 online and 248 venue ballots.
Also among the top candidates are Magnolia playmaker Mark Barroca, who had 17,377 votes to place second in Mindanao, and Rain or Shine sniper James Yap, who got 17,006 votes to wind up second in Visayas.
NLEX super rookie Kiefer Ravena is also making his mark in the polls as he places fifth overall and third in Visayas with his 14,550 votes, in front of Ginebra big man Greg Slaughter (11,665 votes) and GlobalPort scorer Terrence Romeo (11,052 votes).
The Hotshots are also well represented down South, with Jio Jalalon (14,368 votes) and Peter June Simon (13,596 votes) among the top vote-getters in Mindanao. Blackwater sophomore Mac Belo sits at fifth with 12,192 votes.
Meanwhile, it’s a tight contest for the pole position for the Luzon All-Stars with Ginebra forward Japeth Aguilar, who collected 11,692, pacing the list ahead of Alaska energizer bunny Calvin Abueva, who gathered 10,083 votes.
Joining them in the top five in Luzon are Marc Pingris of Magnolia (8,553 votes), LA Tenorio of Ginebra (7,051 votes), and Paul Lee of Magnolia (6,880 votes).
Voting for the All-Stars will resume in the eliminations of the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The top five players in each region will earn the starting positions for their respective squads in the three-leg midseason extravaganza against Gilas Pilipinas.
Digos City, Batangas, and Iloilo are set to host this year’s 2017 PBA All-Star Week, slated from May 23 to 27.
Here are the top 10 for all three PBA All-Star teams after the first window of balloting:
Luzon All-Stars
Japeth Aguilar – 11,692
Calvin Abueva – 10,083
Marc Pingris – 8,553
LA Tenorio – 7,051
Paul Lee – 6,880
Jayson Castro – 6,566
Mark Caguioa – 5,550
Alex Cabagnot – 5,129
Marcio Lassiter – 5,093
Arwind Santos – 4,972
Visayas All-Stars
June Mar Fajardo – 17,498
James Yap – 17,006
Kiefer Ravena – 14,550
Greg Slaughter – 11,665
Terrence Romeo – 11,052
Joe Devance – 8,341
Roger Pogoy – 7,467
Jeff Chan – 7,386
Chris Ross – 6,413
Aldrech Ramos – 4,352
Mindanao All-Stars
Scottie Thompson – 17,851
Mark Barroca – 17,377
Jio Jalalon – 14,368
Peter June Simon – 13,596
Mac Belo – 12,192
JP Erram – 8,342
Baser Amer – 7,526
Rafi Reavis – 7,331
Cyrus Baguio – 7,269
Sonny Thoss – 6,395