MANILA – Rain or Shine Elasto Painters guard James Yap is poised to play in front of his fellow Negrenses after placing fifth in the initial cast of ballots voted by fans for the 2024 PBA All-Star game in Bacolod City later this year.
The Escalante City, Negros Occidental-native Yap, who is aiming for his record 18th PBA All-Star appearance, is currently at fifth spot in the fan voting done in game venue and online with 39,016 votes.
Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots guard Andy Mark Barroca surged on top of fan voting with 124, 352 votes, followed by Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings’ Japeth Aguilar is at second with 56,120.
Gin Kings’ Earl Scottie Thompson dropped to third spot in the All-Star balloting with 42,808 votes, while San Miguel Beermen center June Mar Fajardo jumped to fourth spot with 41,968 votes.
Three Gin Kings players are in the top 10 in Christian Standhardinger (6th), LA Tenorio (8th), and Jamie Malonzo (9th). Hotshots’ Calvin Abueva is at seventh and Beermen’s Jaymar Perez is at 10th.
Aside from Yap, Bacolod City-native gunner Jeffrei Chan of NorthPort Batang Pier is the only other Negrense player who is in the top 30 of voting with 15,460 votes of 29th place.
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.
Aklanon forward Keith Zaldivar of Converge FiberXers, meanwhile, emerged as the surprise leader in the Rookie-Sophomore-Juniors fan voting after garnering a total of 79,150 votes.
Placing behind Zaldivar is Hotshots’ Jerrick Ahanmisi with 57,128, Malonzo with 41,316, TNT Tropang Giga gunner Calvin Oftana with 37,682 and FiberXers center Justin Arana with 33,866.
Beermen head coach Jorge Gallent, meanwhile, took the lead in the coaches voted by fans to handle the All-Star team with 82,696 votes, while Gin Kings’ Tim Cone is at second with 73,356./PN
