All-Star Game: Ginebra, San Mig stars lead PBA selection vs. Gilas
The season’s top draft pick is also the top vote-getter for the 2014 PBA All-Star Game set April 6 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Ginebra rookie Greg Slaughter garnered the most number of votes on online voting and in-venue balloting, and thus banners the starting unit of the PBA All Stars that will be pitted against Gilas Pilipinas in the highlight event of the 2014 PBA All-Star festivities spread over four days starting April 3.
Two other Barangay Ginebra players Chris Ellis and Mac Baracael and San Mig Coffee stalwarts James Yap and Mark Barroca also made the starting cast of the PBA selection to be handled by Philippine Cup champion coach Tim Cone.
Slaughter topped all players with 61,680 votes, followed by Ellis with 44,630 then Baracael with 33,756 as the third frontline player in the starting five.
Barroca was the top vote getter among guards with 38,268 followed by perennial top candidate Yap with 38,260.
Reserves will be voted by the PBA coaches.
Yap is making an 11th All-Star Game appearance, tying the record of Jerry Codinera and Dondon Hontiveros. Alvin Patrimonio and Asi Taulava are the only two players with more All-Star stints with 12 apiece.
The two-time PBA MVP winner is a one-time All-Star Game MVP, winning the honors in Laoag in 2012.
Meanwhile, Barroca, Ellis and Baracael have got their second All-Star participation.
If he makes the reserve list, Taulava, the oldest active player in the local pro league at 41, would break the record he currently shares with Patrimonio.
It’s Gilas Pilipinas versus PBA All Stars Part II, a follow-up to the same All-Star format showcased to the PBA fans in Digos City last year.
Gilas’ Jeff Chan and the All-Stars’ Arwind Santos shared MVP honors after the game ended in a 124-all standoff on Chan’s buzzer-beating three-pointer.
