SOUTH GIANTS FAJARDO & SLAUGHTER FINISH 1-2 IN ALL-STAR FAN VOTES; PINGRIS TOPS NORTH

Rivals for almost their entire playing career, Cebuano giants June Mar Fajardo and Greg Slaughter will have to coexist on the same frontcourt as the duo emerged as the top vote-getters in the 2015 PBA All-Star fan balloting.

Fajardo, the reigning league MVP, topped the list after garnering 38,107 votes, while Slaughter, last season’s Rookie of the Year, got 31,310 votes as the towering young centers finished 1-2 in the All-Star fan voting and will boost the frontline for the South All-Stars in the 2015 PBA All-Star Game to be played on March 8 at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum in Palawan.

Completing the South’s 3-center starting unit is the ageless Asi Taulava, who got 24,062 votes. He will be playing in his 13^th PBA All-Star Game, a new league record.

Alaska mentor Alex Compton’s South All-Stars will have as starting backcourtmen the Purefoods Star tandem of James Yap and Mark Barroca, who mustered 22,937 and 15,197 votes, respectively.

Their Hotshots teammate Marc Pingris, meanwhile, came out as the top vote-getter for the North All-Stars, with the Pozzorubio, Pangasinan native getting 23,947 votes.

Enigmatic Alaska forward Calvin Abueva will also start alongside Pingris after getting 22,670 votes. Completing the North All-Stars frontcourt is Barangay Ginebra leaper Japeth Aguilar, who mustered 18,334 votes.

Starting at guard for North coach Leo Austria are Ginebra’s Mark Caguioa (15,076 votes) and Purefoods Justin Melton (12,312 votes), also the reigning All-Star Slam Dunk co- champ.

The 12 PBA head coaches will select the North and South All-Star Teams reserves.

The PBA All-Star Weekend will be from March 5 to 8. Other on-court activities are the Obstacle Challenge, 3-pt Shootout, Slam Dunk competition and the Rookies vs. Sophomores Blitz Game. (RL)

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