MANILA – June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar will once again headline a major PBA showcase after emerging as the leading vote-getters for the league’s 50th All-Star Game to be held from March 6 to 8 in Candon City, Ilocos Sur.
Fajardo collected a league-best 33,360 fan votes to spearhead the South squad, while Aguilar led all North players with 24,104 votes following the conclusion of voting on January 18.
The two big men recently crossed paths in the Philippine Cup semifinals, where Fajardo and San Miguel eliminated Aguilar and Barangay Ginebra on the Beermen’s road to another finals appearance.
Joining Fajardo in the South starting five are Ginebra guards RJ Abarrientos (31,408) and Scottie Thompson (29,892), TNT winger Calvin Oftana (21,770), and NLEX star Robert Bolick (20,862).
Aguilar will be flanked in the North lineup by Calvin Abueva of the Titans (23,404), Juan Gomez de Liano of Converge (16,488), San Miguel’s CJ Perez (12,716), and Ginebra’s Stephen Holt (12,564).
The five players with the highest fan totals in each division automatically earned starting roles for the All-Star Game.
San Miguel head coach Leo Austria and TNT mentor Chot Reyes were also selected to coach in the showcase after leading their respective teams to the All-Filipino Cup Finals.
Austria and Reyes’ team assignments for the North and South squads will be announced at a later date./PN
