By ADRIAN STEWART CO
MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings’ tandem Japeth Aguilar and Earl Scottie Thompson emerged as frontrunners in the initial cast of ballots voted by fans for the 2024 PBA All-Star game in Bacolod City next year.
Aguilar was the top choice among fans as he garnered a total of 24,372 votes since balloting procedure began on Dec. 3, while Thompson occupied the No. 2 spot with 17,328.
Aguilar and Thompson were also the top two vote getters in last year’s All-Star game in Passi City, Iloilo, making them outright captains of the two sides that competed in the weekend festivities.
Three more members of the Gin Kings comprised the top five list namely Christian Standhardinger (15,400), returning Lewis Alfred Tenorio (15,390) and Jamie Malonzo (15,014).
Seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beermen cracked the Ginebra domination by landing at sixth spot (14,912), only to be sandwiched by two more Kings in Maverick Ahanmisi (13,654) and Stanley Pringle (13,216).
Fajardo’s teammate Jaymar Perez is at ninth spot with 11,432 votes so far, and Arvin Tolentino of NorthPort Batang Pier completed the top 10 of initial list as he garnered 11,092 votes.
Escalante City, Negros Occidental-native James Yap of Rain or Shine Elasto Painters is at 17th spot with 8,800 votes, making him the only homegrown player in the top 24 so far.
Other players who made it to the initial 24-man list are Calvin Abueva (10,606), Eric Camson (10,606) Calvin Oftana (10,330), Chris Newsome (10,252) Paul Lee (9,408), John Pinto (9,038), Jayson Castro (8,568), Terrence Romeo (7,944), Mark Barroca (7,898), Gray (7,052), Von Pessumal (6,752), Marcio Lassiter (6,442), and Jio Jalalon (5,914).
A total of 24 players will be determined through fan selection, with the rest of the member teams to be voted by the media and the two coaches selected to handle the All-Star squads.
The initial votes for coaches who will handle the two All-Star teams are likewise taking the same pattern similar to last year. Tim Cone of Barangay Ginebra tops the list with 28,110 followed by Yeng Guiao of Rain or Shine with 11,494./PN
