Nine-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo and Barangay Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar are bringing their showdown to the PBA All-Star Weekend, topping fan votes to lead the South and North teams, respectively, in the league’s 50th season.
Fajardo topped the fan vote with 33,360 for the South squad, while Aguilar secured 24,104 votes for the North team. Fans cast their ballots online and through in-game venues from December 5 to January 18.
The annual PBA All-Star Weekend will take place in Candon City, Ilocos Sur, from March 6 to 8, promising a weekend of high-flying action and star-studded matchups.
The two giants last faced off in the Philippine Cup semifinals, where Fajardo’s San Miguel Beermen eliminated Aguilar and the defending champion Ginebra Kings.
Joining Fajardo as starters for the South are Ginebra’s RJ Abarrientos (31,408) and Scottie Thompson (29,892), TNT’s Calvin Oftana (21,770), and NLEX’s Robert Bolick (20,862).
On the North side with Aguilar are Titan’s Calvin Abueva (23,404), Converge’s Juan Gomez De Liano (16,488), San Miguel’s CJ Perez (12,716), and Ginebra’s Stephen Holt (12,564).
The top fan votes determined the five starters for each All-Star unit, while San Miguel’s Leo Austria and TNT’s Chot Reyes, who led their respective teams to the All-Filipino Cup finals, earned the right to coach the squads. It has yet to be decided which coach will handle the North or South team. The remaining roster spots will be filled by all 12 PBA coaches.
Fans also voted for the Rookie/Sophomore vs. Juniors exhibition, with Ginebra’s Abarrientos leading the RS side with 42,862 votes and Rain or Shine’s Adrian Nocum topping the Juniors squad with 38,710.
Abarrientos will be joined by Justine Baltazar (38,022) and De Liano (37,802) of Converge, Blackwater’s Sedrick Barefield (32,246), Magnolia’s Jerom Lastimosa (31,208), Rain or Shine’s Caelan Tiongson (30,840), Phoenix’s Kai Ballungay (28,466), Meralco’s CJ Cansino (28,094), Ginebra’s Sonny Estil (24,026), Blackwater’s Dalph Panopio (23,136), Terrafirma’s Mark Nonoy (20,498), and Rain or Shine’s Felix Lemetti (19,890).
Joining Nocum on the Juniors side are Ricci Rivero of Phoenix (38,020), Holt (35,584), Magnolia’s Zavier Lucero (35,120), Meralco’s Brandon Bates (28,008), Ginebra’s Ralph Cu (27,806), Blackwater’s Christian David (25,852), TNT’s Kim Aurin (25,142), Titan’s Fran Yu (23,602), Phoenix’s Kenneth Tuffin (25,576), Converge’s Deschon Winston (21,412), and Titan’s Cade Flores (20,370).
The last time the PBA featured both All-Star formats was in 2019 in Calasiao, Pangasinan, setting the stage for another fan-favorite spectacle this March.
