Yap All-Star poll frontrunner

Source: By Nelson Beltran (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Derby Ace main man James Yap, the MVP race leader, is also the frontrunner in fan voting for players to make up the starting rosters for the PBA All-Star Game set April 25 in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

Yap is also a cinch to gain a spot in the South team which will seek a repeat of its victory the last time the North-versus-South format was used in the annual mid-season spectacle in 2008 in Bacolod.

Yap’s teammates Kerby Raymundo, Mark Pingris and Paul Artadi and Ginebra stalwarts Jayjay Helterbrand, Eric Menk, Cyrus Baguio and JC Intal are the other frontrunners.

Yap drew 28,844 votes through the last count and he’s likely to share the backcourt slots with Baguio (14,136).

Pingris, meanwhile, is No. 1 among players from the North with 20,540. He may well banner the North frontcourt along with Raymundo (19,558) and Intal (15,792).

With 15,916 votes, Helterbrand is top in the North backcourt together with Artadi (13,664).

Among the big men of the South, 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 have a chance to cast their votes until 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 to comprise the North and South teams will be chosen by the league’s 10 coaches. A coach, however, can’t pick his own players.

Behind MVP Peter June Simon, the South edged out the North, 163-158, in overtime, 163-158, in Bacolod in 2008.

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