MANILA—FORMER most valuable player James Yap and his Derby Ace Llamados teammates Kerby Raymundo, Mark Pingris and Paul Artadi got the nod of the fans as likely starters in the April 23-25 mid-season All-Star Games to be held in Puerto Princesa Palawan.
Yap notched the most number of votes among the top 10 players with 28,844.
Not to be outdone, Barangay Ginebra also showed the way in the fan voting for starters with reigning league MVP JayJay Helterbrand, veteran Erik Menk and the high-flying tandem of Cyrus Baguio and JC Intal receiving the most votes.
Pingris emerged as the top vote getters in the South—and second highest overall votes behind Yap—with 20,540 to banner the team’s frontline along with Raymundo (19,558) and Intal (15,792).
With 15,916 votes, Helterbrand tops the South backcourt together with Artadi (13,664).
Among the big men of the North, Kelly Williams of Sta. Lucia is the top choice with 19,482 followed by Menk with 15,420 and old reliable Asi Taulava of Coca-Cola with 15,250.
Fans still have a chance to cash in their choices as the final day of voting will still be on April 4.
Voting booths can be found at game venues either at the Araneta Coliseum or Cuneta Astrodome. Online voting is also available at www.pba.ph.
The rest of the players who will comprise the North and South teams will be chosen by the league’s 10 coaches. A coach however, cannot cast his vote on his own player.
Behind MVP Peter June Simon, the South edged out the North in overtime, 163-158, the last time the two teams met in the 2008 All-Star game in Bacolod City. (PBA Mediau Bureau)