June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar extend their rivalry to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All-Star game as the two emerged with the most number of fan votes to lead the South and North teams, respectively.

Fajardo, the nine-time league Most Valuable Player, garnered the highest votes from the fans with a total of 33,360 for the South squad, while Aguilar received 24,104 for the North crew.

Voting was made through online and in-game venues and began last 5 December until 18 January.

Candon City, Ilocos Sur will host the annual classic in the league’s 50th season slated from 6 to 8 March.

Fajardo and Aguilar battled each other in the Philippine Cup semifinals, with the 6-foot-11 San Miguel star and the defending champion Beermen eliminating Aguilar and the Barangay Ginebra Kings.

Selected with Fajardo in the South team with their corresponding votes were the Ginebra duo of RJ Abarrientos (31,408) and Scottie Thompson (29,892), Calvin Oftana of TNT (21,770), and Robert Bolick of NLEX (20,862).

Joining Aguilar in the North team are Titan’s Calvin Abueva (23,404), Juan Gomez De Liaño of Converge (16,488), San Miguel’s CJ Perez (12,716), and Ginebra’s Stephen Holt (12,564).

Players with the most number of votes from the fans determined the five starters for each All-Star unit.

San Miguel’s Leo Austria and Chot Reyes of TNT earned the right to call the shots in the All-Star game after steering their respective teams to the All-Filipino Cup finals. 

The two however, hasn’t been designated yet which between the North and South teams they will handle.

The remaining spots in each All-Star unit will be completed by all 12 PBA coaches.

Meanwhile, Abarrientos and Rain or Shine’s Adrian Nocum were the top fan favorites to banner the Rookie/Sophomores vs Juniors’ sideshow to the All-Star weekend.

Abarrientos topped the RS squad with 42,862 votes, and Nocum received 38,710 for the Juniors’ side.

Joining Abarrientos are Justine Baltazar (38,022) and De Liano (37,802) of Converge, Blackwater’s Sedrick Barefield (32,246), Magnolia’s Jerom Lastimosa (31,208), Caelan Tiongson of Rain or Shine (30,840), Kai Ballungay of Phoenix (28,466), Meralco’s CJ Cansino (28,094), Sonny Estil of Ginebra (24,026), Blackwater’s Dalph Panopio (23,136), Terrafirma’s Mark Nonoy (20,498) and Felix Lemetti of Rain or Shine (19,890).

With Nocum in the Juniors’ squad are Ricci Rivero of Phoenix (38,020), Holt (35,584), Magnolia’s Zavier Lucero (35,120), Meralco’s Brandon Bates (28,008), Ralph Cu of Ginebra (27,806), Blackwater’s Christian David (25,852), TNT’s Kim Aurin (25,142), Titan’s Fran Yu (23,602), Kenneth Tuffin of Phoenix (25,576), Deschon Winston of Converge (21,412), and Cade Flores of Titan (20,370).

The last time the PBA adopted the two All-Star formats was in the 2019 edition of the mid-season spectacle held in Calasiao, Pangasinan.