RISING star Scottie Thompson emerged as the leading choice of fans in the initial tally of voting for this year's PBA All-Star week.
The Barangay Ginebra third year guard has so far amassed a total of 17,851 votes from the combined online and in-venue ballots to show the way for the Mindanao selection that will play Gilas Pilipinas on May 23 in Digos, Davao del Sur. Thompson also topped the voting on both online (17,573) and in-venue games (278).
Four-time MVP June Mar Fajardo meanwhile, comes a close second behind Thompson with 17,498 as the top vote getter of the Visayas selection which sees action on May 27 in Iloilo also opposite the national team. The 6-foot-10 center of San Miguel Beer is also second to Thompson in online (17,250) and venue (248) voting.
Also breaching the 17,000 mark are Magnolia Pambansang Manok's Mark Barroca and two-time MVP James Yap of Rain or Shine. Barroca, who had the most number of fan votes in last year's All-Star, tallied 17,377 for third place and second in Mindanao, while Yap totaled 17,006 for fourth place overall and second in Visayas.
Meanwhile, Japeth Aguilar also of Barangay Ginebra was the no. 1 vote getter for the Luzon squad with 11,692 followed by Alaska's Calvin Abueva at second with 10,083. The Luzon selection plays Gilas in Batangas City on May 25.
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Kiefer Ravena on the other hand, is the only rookie to make it in the Top 10 of all three All-Star teams by emerging no. 3 in the Visayas voting behind Fajardo and Yap. The NLEX freshman guard had 14,550 votes.
Voting for this year's All-Star began simultaneously on social media and the different playing venues last Feb. 16 and ended last March 9 for the initial cutoff. It resumes shortly during the eliminations of the mid-season Commissioner's Cup.
Also getting huge votes from the fans are Magnolia sophomore Jio Jalalon (14,368) and veteran teammate Peter June Simon (13,596), as well as Blackwater sophomore big man Mac Belo (12,192). The three completes the top five choices in the Mindanao team.
Greg Slaughter (11,665) of Barangay Ginebra and Globalport's Terrence Romeo (11,052) are the two other players from Visayas who already surpassed the 10,000 vote barrier.
The rest of the Top 10 players in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao who made it to the initial cutoff are as follows.
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Luzon - Marc Pingris (8,553), LA Tenorio (7,051), Paul Lee (6,880), Jayson Castro (6,566), Mark Caguioa (5,550), Alex Cabagnot (5,129), Marcio Lassiter (5,093), and Arwind Santos (4,972).
Visayas - Joe Devance (8,341), Roger Pogoy (7,467), Jeff Chan (7,386), Chris Ross (6,413), and Aldrech Ramos (4,352).
Mindanao - Jaypee Erram (8,342), Baser Amer (7,526), Rafi Reavis (7,331), Cyrus Baguio (7,269), and Sonny Thoss (6,395).
