Christian Standhardinger was selected first overall once more in the PBA All-Star Game Draft on Monday night at the TV5 Media Center in Pasig.
The Barangay Ginebra big man will be participating in the 2024 ASG as its top pick after being chosen by teammate Japeth Aguilar, who will be serving as one of the team captains in the midseason spectacle to be held in Bacolod.
Opposing captain Mark Barroca, on the other hand, used his first pick on reigning seven-time league MVP June Mar Fajardo as the former teammates with San Miguel went 1-2 in the All-Star Draft for the second consecutive time.
To be coached by Tim Cone, Team Japeth will also feature 2021 league MVP Scottie Thompson and last year’s All-Star Game MVP Paul Lee.
Calvin Oftana, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Don Trollano, Marcio Lassiter, Arvin Tolentino, Maverick Ahanmisi, Tyler Tio, Stanley Pringle, and three-time All-Star Game MVP Terrence Romeo complete the squad.
Team Mark, on the other hand, also includes Jason Perkins, CJ Perez, Robert Bolick, Jio Jalalon, Ian Sangalang, Calvin Abueva, Jayson Castro, Gabe Norwood, Ricci Rivero, Cliff Hodge, Juami Tiongson, and Nards Pinto.
Barroca’s squad will have 15 players as the veteran playmaker picked two-time PBA MVP James Yap, who garnered the most fan votes in Bacolod.
Meanwhile, it’d be Team Greats versus Team Stalwarts again in the Rookie-Sophomores-Juniors Game, featuring the league’s up-and-coming stars.
Brandon Ganuleas-Rosser headlines the Team Greats of Ginebra assistant coach Patrick Partosa, while newly-minted champion Kyt Jimenez banners Team Stalwarts, which SMB deputy Peter Martin will coach.
Also part of the Team Greats are Javi Gomez de Liano, Kenneth Tuffin, Jerrick Ahanmisi, Justin Arana, Ralph Cu, Andrei Caracut, RK Ilagan, Alec Stockton, Gian Mamuyac, James Laput, and Shaun Ildefonso
Joining Jimenez in Team Stalwarts, on the other hand, are John Amores, Stephen Holt, Keith Datu, Fran Yu, Adrian Nocum, Kim Aurin, JM Calma, Joshua Munzon, Anton Asistio, Santi Santillan, and Keith Zaldivar.
The PBA All-Star Bacolod 2024 is scheduled for March 23-24 at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum.
