THE Barangay Ginebra duo of Japeth Aguilar and Scottie Thompson are at it again as they led the initial cast of ballots voted by fans for the 2024 PBA All-Star game in Bacolod.
Aguilar emerged as the top choice among fans, garnering a total of 24,372 votes since balloting procedure began last December 3.
Thompson meanwhile occupies the no. 2 spot with 17,328. Aguilar and Thompson were also the top two vote getters in last year's All-Star game in Passi City, Iloilo, making them outright captains of the two sides that competed in the weekend festivities.
Team Japeth won over Team Scottie, 140-136.
Three more Barangay Ginebra players completed the Top 5 list behind Christian Standhardinger (15,400), LA Tenorio (15,390) and Jamie Malonzo (15,014).
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Seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel cracked the Ginebra domination by landing at sixth spot (14,912), only to be sandwiched by two more Kings in Maverick Ahanmisi (13,654) and Stanley Pringle (13,216).
The final two in the Top 10 list belonged to San Miguel's CJ Perez (11,432), and Arvin Tolentino of Northport (11,092).
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.
The initial votes for coaches who will handle the two All-Star teams are likewise taking the same pattern similar to last year. Tim Cone of Barangay Ginebra tops the list with 28,110 followed by Yeng Guiao of Rain or Shine with 11,494.
Chito Victolero of Magnolia (7,180), TNT's Jojo Lastimosa (3,572), and San Miguel's Jorge Gallent (3,348) also got their own share of votes.
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Meanwhile in the Rookies/Sophomores/Juniors side event, the Gilas Pilipinas duo of Malonzo (16,638) and TNT's Calvin Oftana (13,234) are the top two choices by the fans.
Sophomores Jeremiah Gray of Ginebra (12,212), last year's top rookie in Justin Arana of Converge (11,620), and Tyler Tio of Phoenix (11,304), are the other players who received votes from the fans.
Other players who made it to the initial 24-man list are Calvin Abueva (10,606), Eric Camson (10,606) Oftana (10,330), Chris Newsome (10,252) Paul Lee (9,408), John Pinto (9,038), James Yap (8,800), Jayson Castro (8,568), Terrence Romeo (7,944), Mark Barroca (7,898), Gray (7,052), Von Pessumal (6,752), Marcio Lassiter (6,442), and Jio Jalalon (5,914). (RG)
