CStand, JMF emerge as top picks in PBA All-Star
BARANGAY Ginebra slot man Christian Standhardinger and San Miguel Beer’s star big man June Mar Fajardo emerged as the top picks for Team Japeth Aguilar and Team Mark Barroca during the 2024 PBA All-Star Draft on Monday night at the TV5 Media Center in Mandaluyong.
Team Japeth got to select the 6-foot8 Standhardinger after winning in the coin toss, while Team Mark turned to the Cebuano big man.
This year’s All-Star will be held in Bacolod, marking the first time the City of Smiles will be hosting the Annual PBA spectacle since 2008 when the South All-Stars beat their North counterparts in overtime 163-158 behind the hot-shooting of All-Star MVP Peter June Simon.
Last year’s PBA All-Star was held in Passi, Iloilo, where Team Japeth subdued Team Scottie 140-136 with Paul Lee named as MVP.
Ginebra head coach Tim Cone will be calling the shots for Team Aguilar, while newly minted PBA champion Jorge Gallent of San Miguel Beer will handle Team Barroca.
Standhardhardinger and Fajardo emerged as the top picks for their respective All-Star teams for the second straight year since this format was implemented last season.
After selecting the Fil-German center, Team Japeth also nabbed PBA Season 46 Most Valuable Player Scottie Thompson, Magnolia’s sweet-shooting guard Paul Lee, TNT’s Calvin Oftana, athletic Gin King Jamie Malonzo, Meralco’s Chris Newsome, San Miguel’s Don Trollano and Marcio Lassiter, NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino, Ginebra guards Maverick Ahanmisi and Stanley Pringle, along with Phoenix guard Tyler Tio and Beermen Terrence Romeo.
On the other hand, joining Fajardo at Team Mark are Phoenix forward Jason Perkins, San Miguel star CJ Perez, NLEX guard Robert Bolick, Magnolia’s Jio Jalalon and Ian Sangalang, Blackwater’s James Yap, Hotshot Calvin Abueva, Jayson Castro of TNT, Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine, Fuel Master rookie Ricci Rivero, Meralco’s Cliff Hodge, Juami Tiongson of Terrafirma, and Nards Pinto of Ginebra.
Meanwhile, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser emerged as first pick by Team Greats of Barangay Ginebra in the Rookies, Sophomores, and Juniors contest.
San Miguel’s Kyt Jimenez was selected second overall by Team Stalwarts, which will have Beermen assistant coach Peter Martin as its coach.