SCOTTIE Thompson cemented his status as one of the country’s most popular players as he received the most fan votes to start for this year’s PBA All-Star Week in late May.
The third-year Ginebra playmaker and rebounding machine from Digos City, Davao del Sur collected 33,068 votes to lead the Mindanao team, while San Miguel Beer superstar and Cebuano giant June Mar Fajardo came in a close second with 32,135 votes to lead the Visayas selection.
Magnolia point guard and Cagayan de Oro native Mark Barroca, the top vote-getter last year, is in third spot with 31,810 votes. James Yap, a pride of Negros Occidental, is the other player to get over 30k votes with 30,203 for fourth overall.
NLEX rookie sensation and Ilonggo Kiefer Ravena, rounded out the Top Five with 27,642 votes, emerging as the only freshman among the All-Star starters and Top 30 vote-getters for the All-Star week from May 23 to 27 in Digos, Batangas, and Iloilo featuring games between Gilas Pilipinas and the All-Star teams of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Japeth Aguilar is in eighth spot overall with 23,348 votes, enough votes to lead the Luzon team, in which Calvin Abueva (18,655), LA Tenorio (14,381), Paul Lee (14,095), and Marc Pingris (14,019) are also starting.
Cagayan de Oro pride Jio Jalalon (26,850), and Cotabato natives PJ Simon (26,754) and Mac Belo (21,732) join Thompson and Barroca in the Mindanao team’s starting lineup.
The rest of the Visayas All-Star starters are Greg Slaughter (21,016) and Terrence Romeo (20,720) along with Fajardo, Yap, and Ravena.
Top 30:
Scottie Thompson – 33,068
June Mar Fajardo – 32,135
Mark Barroca – 31,810
James Yap – 30,203
Kiefer Ravena – 27,642
Jio Jalalon – 26,850
PJ Simon – 26,754
Japeth Aguilar – 23,348
Mac Belo – 21,732
Greg Slaughter – 21,016
Terrence Romeo – 20,720
Calvin Abueva 18,655
Joe Devance – 18,009
Cyrus Baguio – 15,583
Poy Erram – 15,161
Rafi Reavis – 14,831
LA Tenorio -14,381
Baser Amer – 14,340
Paul Lee – 14,095
Marc Pingris – 14,019
Roger Pogoy – 13,908
Jeff Chan – 13,472
Jayson Castro – 12,871
Chris Ross – 12,468
Mark Caguioa – 11,601
Sonny Thoss – 11,577
Marcio Lassiter – 11,265
Alex Cabagnot – 10,675
Arwind Santos – 9,666
Aldrech Ramos – 9,123
Luzon:
Japeth Aguilar – 23,348
Calvin Abueva 18,655
LA Tenorio -14,381
Paul Lee – 14,095
Marc Pingris – 14,019
Jayson Castro – 12,871
Mark Caguioa – 11,601
Marcio Lassiter – 11,265
Alex Cabagnot – 10,675
Arwind Santos – 9,666
Visayas:
June Mar Fajardo – 32,135
James Yap – 30,203
Kiefer Ravena – 27,642
Greg Slaughter – 21,016
Terrence Romeo – 20,720
Joe Devance - 18,009
Roger Pogoy – 13,908
Jeff Chan – 13,472
Chris Ross – 12,468
Aldrech Ramos – 9,123
Mindanao:
Scottie Thompson – 33,068
Mark Barroca – 31,810
Jio Jalalon – 26,850
PJ Simon – 26,754
Mac Belo – 21,732
Cyrus Baguio - 15,583
Poy Erram – 15,161
Rafi Reavis – 14,831
Baser Amer – 14,340
Sonny Thoss – 11,577