By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots’ Andy Mark Barroca and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings’ Japeth Aguilar were voted as team captains in the 2024 PBA All-Star Game to be held at the University of St. La Salle Gym in Bacolod City.
Barroca garnered the most votes in the fan balloting held online and in game venues, while Aguilar finished in second place.
Both are on their ninth PBA All-Star appearances.
Similar to last season’s format, the two team captains will get to pick their teammates through a draft, whose pool is made up of 27 others selected by the fans, the host city, coaches, and the media.
Finishing in third place was Gin Kings’ Earl Scottie Thompson, followed by San Miguel Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo and Barroca’s Hotshots teammate Calvin Abueva to complete the Top 5.
The next five are dominated by the Gin Kings, with Christian Standhardinger at sixth, Jamie Malonzo at seventh and Maverick Ahanmisi at 10th.
Hotshots’ Paul Lee and Beermen’s Jaymar Perez ended at eighth and ninth, respectively.
TNT Tropang Giga’s Calvin Oftana, Gin Kings’ Stanley Pringle, Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome, Beermen’s Terrence Romeo, and NorthPort Batang Pier’s Arvin Tolentino occupied the 11th to 15th places.
Completing the Top 24 are Tropang Giga’s Jayson Castro, Hotshots’ Jiovani Jalalon and Ian Sangalang, Beermen’s Marcio Lassiter, NLEX Road Warriors’ Robert Bolick, Gin Kings’ Nard Pinto, Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters’ Ricci Rivero, Terrafirma Dyip’s Juan Miguel Tiongson, and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters’ Gabe Norwood.
Negrense James Yap of Blackwater Bossing received the most votes in Bacolod, while Fuel Masters’ Jason Perkins and Tyler Tio, Beermen’s Don Trollano and Bolts’ Cliff Hodge were voted by the coaches and media to be part of the All-Star Game.
Gin Kings mentor Tim Cone and newly-crowned Commissioner’s Cup champion Jorge Gallent of the Beermen will be the All-Star coaches after getting the most number of fan votes.
This will serve as the PBA All-Star’s return to the City of Smiles since 2008 at the STI-West Negros University, where Peter June Simon was named All-Star MVP for leading the South team past North, 163-158./ASC, WDJ