Ginebra big man Japeth Aguilar. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–Barangay Ginebra teammates Japeth Aguilar and Scottie Thompson emerged as the top votegetters at the end of the fan balloting for the PBA All-Star Game, earning them the responsibility of forming their teams for the event slated next month in Passi City, Iloilo.
Aguilar received the most number of votes with 1,239,665 while Thompson finished second with 1,217,226 to secure the status as captains for the highly-anticipated game that will make a comeback after a four-year absence.
The Ginebra stars are slated to pick from a list of 22 players that made the cut in a special draft proceedings slated Monday. Their coach Tim Cone and Rain or Shine’s Yeng Guiao will call the shots after receiving the most number of votes.
San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo, who initially led the balloting until being leapfrogged by Aguilar, was third with 1,207,592 votes while two Ginebra players made it to the top five in Jamie Malonzo (1,196,423) and Christian Standhardinger (1,191,379).
Also making it are Rain or Shine’s James Yap (1,190,624), Ginebra’s LA Tenorio (1,189,717), Magnolia’s Calvin Abueva (1,188,589) and Mark Barroca (1,184,644) and Ginebra’s Stanley Pringle (1,181,724), San Miguel’s CJ Perez, Magnolia’s Paul Lee (1,165,872) and TNT’s Jayson Castro (1,165,736).
Rookies Gian Mamuyac (1,164,660) and Ginebra’s Jeremiah Gray (1,162,243) were surprise inclusions to the game, San Miguel’s Terrence Romeo (1,161,539) also made the list along with NorthPort’s Robert Bolick (1,155,233), San Miguel’s Marcio Lassiter (1,153,092), NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino (1,152,747), TNT’s RR Pogoy (1,149,535), NLEX’s Kevin Alas (1,148,628), Meralco’s Chris Newsome (1,148,099), Ginebra’s Nards Pinto (1,146,069) and TNT’s Mikey Williams (1,145,919).
Four players outside of the top 24 were named as reserves should some of the players pull out due to injuries in Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood (1,139,142), NorthPort’s Jeff Chan (1,136,760), TNT’s Calvin Oftana (1,134,790) and Magnolia’s Jio Jalalon (1,134,602).