Ginebra San Miguel stars Japeth Aguilar and Scottie Thompson finished 1-2 in the final round of balloting to emerge as the fans’ top choices to banner the PBA All-Star Game in Passi City, Iloilo on March 12.
Aguilar kept the top spot as voting ended last February 15 with 1,239,664 votes, while reigning MVP Thompson finished second with 1,217,226 votes.
The two will serve as captains of the opposing teams playing in the mid-season spectacle, which returns after a three-year absence due to the pandemic.
Also Gilas Pilipinas teammates, Aguilar and Thompson will pick the players of their respective sides through a special draft on February 20.
Six-time MVP June Mar Fajardo ended up at no. 3 (1,207,592) after being the no. 1 vote-getter in the first fan returns, while Jamie Malonzo (1,196,423) and Christian Standhardinger (1,191,379) rounded up the Top 5.
The Kings’ Tim Cone and Rain or Shine’s Yeng Guiao will call the shots for each All-Star team as the decorated mentors garnered the most votes with 1,291,785 and 1,231,538, respectively.
Two-time MVP James Yap finished at sixth in the balloting with 1,190, 624 as LA Tenorio (1,189,717), Calvin Abueva (1,188,589), Mark Barroca (1,184,644), and Stanley Pringle (1,181,724) round up the Top 10.
CJ Perez was 11th with 1,180,646 followed by Paul Lee (1,165,872), Jayson Castro (1,165,736), rookies Gian Mamuyac (1,164,660) and Jeremiah Gray (1,162,243), Terrence Romeo (1,161,539), and Robert Bolick (1,155,233).
Completing the 24-man list were Marcio Lassiter (1,153,092), Arvin Tolentino (1,152,747), Roger Pogoy (1,149,535), Kevin Alas (1,148,628), Chris Newsome (1,148,099), Nards Pinto (1,146,069), and Mikey Williams (1,145,919).
Veterans Gabe Norwood (1,139,142) and Jeff Chan (1,136,760) as well as Calvin Oftana (1,134,790), and Jio Jalalon (1,134,602) are the four named reserves in case any of the 24 All-Stars won’t be available due to injuries.
Meanwhile, Rain or Shine guard Shaun Ildefonso topped the balloting for the Rookies-Sophomores-Juniors teams with 1,190,719 votes, while sophomore winger Oftana finished a strong second with 1,190,448.
Tyler Tio (1,185,632), Aaron Black (1,183,150), Justin Arana (1,182,979), Jerrick Ahanmisi (1,180,125), Matt Nieto (1,167,491), Mike Nieto (1,165,341), Jerrick Balanza (1,162,405), and Brandon Rosser (1,159,661) were in the Top 10.
RK Ilagan (1,158,559), Allyn Bulanadi (1,158,297), Ato Ular (1,157,824), Isaac Go (1,157,181), Anton Asistio (1,154,429), Joshua Munzon (1,152,666), Aris Dionisio (1,150,009), Encho Serrano (1,149,128), Adrian Wong (1,148,850), and Javi Gomez de Liano (1,148,579) made it as well.
RSJ reserves include Alec Stockton (1,147,716), Andrei Caracut (1,145,951), Aljun Melecio (1,144,913), and Kent Salado (1,144,335).
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The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
