It’s like a Pinoy version of Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlein teaming up for the Eastern All-Stars during the 1960s as June Mar Fajardo and Greg Slaughter, who formed a collegiate rivalry in Cebu, will backstop the South All-Star team in the coming PBA All-Star Weekend.
Fajardo, the 6-foot-10, reigning Most Valuable Player of San Miguel Beer, will form an interesting partnership with Slaughter, the seven-foot center of Barangay Ginebra.
The Beermen slotman garnered the most number of votes from fans with 38,107.
Slaughter had the second most number of votes with 31,310.
Asi Taulava the oldest player in the PBA at 41, makes the South frontline a triple tower threat as he was also inserted as one of the starters. He was voted by 24,062 fans.
Taulava will be appearing in his 13th All-Star game, breaking the previous feat of Alvin Patrimonio for the most number of appearance in this annual festivity, which will be held this year in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
Joining the power trio in the South’s starting line up are James Yap (22,937) and Mark Barroca (15,197) of Purefoods.
If size and strength will be the foundation of the South All-Stars, the North will bank on its energetic players Marc Pingris of Purefoods and Calvin Abueva of Alaska, who each received 22,670 votes.
Japeth Aguilar of Barangay Ginebra will join these two enthusiastic forwards up front after being voted by 18,334 fans.
Manning the backcourt of the North squad are Mark Caguioa of Barangay Ginebra (15,076) and Justin Melton of Purefoods (12,312).
Coaching the respective squads are Leo Austria (North) and Alex Compton (South) while reserves of the two teams will be named by all 12 coaches in the PBA.
