Ginebra’s Slaughter top vote-getter for 2014 PBA All-Star Game

Greg Slaughter. Nuki Sabio/PBA FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — This season’s top overall pick also topped the list of players heading into the 2014 PBA All-Star Game slated on April 6 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Barangay Ginebra rookie Greg Slaughter got the most votes through online and in-venue voting with 61,680 votes as he will lead the PBA Select squad against Gilas Pilipinas in the highlight of this year’s four-day All-Star festivities.

Aside from the seven-foot center Slaughter, high-flying swingman Chris Ellis and forward Mac Baracael also of the Kings made it to the starting five.

Ellis finished second in the final balloting returns released Tuesday as he garnered 44,630 votes while Baracel ended up with 33,756 votes.

Rounding up the first five are San Mig Coffee’s Mark Barroca and James Yap. Philippine Cup Finals MVP Barroca led all guards with 38,268 votes while the two-time league MVP Yap wound up with 38,260 votes.

The PBA All-Stars will be handled by the winningest head coach in league history Tim Cone of the Mixers.

The reserves will be voted by PBA coaches.

Yap, who won the All-Star Game MVP two years ago in Laoag, will be making his 11th All-Star appearance tying Jerry Codiñera and Dondon Hontiveros.

The record for the most number of All-Star appearances is shared by Alvin Patrimonio and Asi Taulava with 12.

Taulava, the ageless Air21 center, though is most likely on his way to breaking the mark with a 13th appearance after a strong showing last conference despite being the current oldest player in the league at 41.

Last year, the PBA All-Stars and the Nationals fittingly battled to a 124-all deadlock with Arwind Santos and Jeff Chan, who made the game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer, named as co-MVPs in Digos.

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