Aguilar, Thompson lead PBA All-Star voting

BARANGAY Ginebra teammates Japeth Aguilar and Scottie Thompson emerged as the top 2 vote-getters of the PBA All-Star Game voting.

At the close of the balloting, Aguilar and Thompson led their respective PBA All-Star teams as the season-ending showcase returns from a three-year hiatus in Passi City, Iloilo on March 12.

The 6-foot-9 Aguilar topped the overall voting, which closed last February 15, after garnering 1,239,665 votes, while Thompson, the reigning league Most Valuable Player, finished runner-up with 1,217,226 votes.

Both Ginebra stars will serve as team captains for the two All-Star squads with Aguilar and Thompson set to pick the members of their respective teams in a draft on Monday, February 20.

San Miguel Beer’s star center June Mar Fajardo, who led the polls in the initial round of voting returns, wound up at third place in the fan voting with 1,207,592, followed by young Ginebra athletic forward Jamie Malonzo with 1,196,423 votes.

Filipino German Christian Standhardinger is at fifth spot with 1,191,379, highlighting the popularity of Ginebra as four Gin Kings made it to the top 5 list.

Ginebra coach Tim Cone, the all-time winningest coach in league history, and Rain or Shine’s Yeng Guiao, were also voted to coach the opposing teams in the All-Star Game after collecting the most number of votes with 1,291,785 and 1,231,538, respectively.

Comebacking Rain or Shine star James Yap is at sixth spot in the balloting with 1,190,624 votes. He will be making his 17th All-Star appearance.

PBA’s “Iron Man” LA Tenorio of Ginebra is at seventh place (1,189,717) followed Magnolia’s energetic forward Calvin Abueva (1,188,589), Hotshots team skipper Mark Barroca (1,184,644) and Ginebra’s Filipino American guard Stanley Pringle (1,181,724) in the Top 10.

San Miguel Beer’s CJ Perez is at No. 11 with 1,180,646 followed by Magnolia’s Paul Lee (1,165,872), TNT’s Jayson Castro (1,165,736), Rain or Shine rookie Gian Mamuyac (1,164,660), Ginebra rookie Jeremiah Gray (1,162,243), SMB’s Terrence Romeo (1,161,539), NorthPort’s Robert Bolick (1,155,233), SMB’s Marcio Lassiter (1,153,092), NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino (1,152,747) and TNT’s Roger Pogoy (1,149,535).

Completing the 24-man list are NLEX’s Kevin Alas (1,148,628), Meralco’s Chris Newsome (1,148,099), Ginebra’s Nards Pinto (1,146,069) and TNT’s Mikey Williams (1,145,919).

Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood (1,139,142) is on the reserves list, along with Jeff Chan (1,136,760), Calvin Oftana (1,134,790) and Jio Jalalon (1,134,602). They will be chosen in the event any of the 24 players can’t play in the All-Star Game due to injuries.

Meanwhile, Rain or Shine guard Shaun Ildefonso topped the balloting for the Rookies-Sophomores-Juniors (RSJ) teams with 1,190,719 votes. Calvin Oftana is a close second with 1,190,448 votes.

Making it to the Top 10 were Tyler Tio (1,185,632), Aaron Black (1,183,150), Justin Araña (1,182,979), Jerrick Ahanmisi (1,180,125), the Nieto twins Matt (1,167,491) and Mike (1,165,341), Jerrick Balanza (1,162,405) and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser (1,159,661).

The rest of the youngsters who made it include 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).

Included in the RSJ reserves are Alec Stockton (1,147,716), Andrei Caracut (1,145,951), Aljun Melecio (1,144,913) and Kent Salado (1,144,335).