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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar to lead All-Stars as PBA reverts to North vs South format

June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar to lead All-Stars as PBA reverts to North vs South format

Published Jan 24, 2026 01:30 pm

At A Glance

  • June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar are bannering the All-Star teams as the PBA reverts back to the old North vs South All-Star games for this year's edition of the mid-season festivities.
June Mar Fajardo. (PBA Images)
June Mar Fajardo. (PBA Images)
June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar are bannering the All-Star teams as the PBA reverts back to the old North vs South All-Star games for this year’s edition of the mid-season festivities.
The San Miguel center topped the poll while the Ginebra forward came second, installing them as captains of the South and North All-Star teams, respectively.
 The clash between their teams will highlight the three-day affair in Candon, Ilocos Sur on March 6 to 8 which will also feature an RSJ game
Fajardo garnered a combined 33,360 votes from the online and in-venue polls while Aguilar had 24,104. 
Like the 2019 All-Stars in Calasiao, Pangasinan, where the format was last used, other top vote getters will join Fajardo and Aguilar in the starting five while the rest of the team will be determined by the 12 PBA coaches.
Joining Fajardo in the South All-Stars are Ginebra’s RJ Abarrientos (31,408) and Scottie Thompson (29,892), TNT’s Calvin Oftana (21,770) and NLEX’s Robert Bolick (20,862).
Aguilar, meanwhile, will have Titan’s Calvin Abueva (23,404), Converge’s super rookie Juan Gomez de Liano  (16,488), San Miguel’s CJ Perez (12,716), and Ginebra teammate Stephen Holt (12,564).
Coaching the teams are the Philippine Cup Finalists Leo Austria and Chot Reyes, although their assignment is yet to be determined.
In the RSJ game, Abarrientos will be leading the Rookie-Sophomore team while Rain or Shine’s Adrian Nocum will be heading the Juniors team.
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) are also part of the RS team
Completing the squad are 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).
For the part of the Juniors, Nocum is joined by  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) rounded out the lineup.
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