Caguioa, Miller lead All-Star North squad

MANILA, Philippines - The explosive Ginebra backcourt tandem of Mark Caguioa and Willie Miller leads the North team against James Yap and the South squad when the PBA unveils the 2011 edition of the annual All-Star game next month in Boracay.

Caguioa and Miller accumulated the most number of fan votes among guards from Luzon with 17,037 and 9,603, respectively, to clinch the starting guard spots for the North.

Yap, however, emerged as the runaway fan favorite, receiving the most number of votes among this year’s All-Stars with 31,437.

The Derby Ace top gunner gets to share stellar billing with high-flyer Cyrus Baguio of Alaska, who nosed out Talk `N Text’s Jimmy Alapag for the other backcourt spot by earning 18,342 votes. Alapag got 16,785.

Voting for the May 18-23 mid-season spectacle dubbed “Hala Bola Boracay 2011 All Star Weekend” ended last April 10.

Joining Caguioa and Miller in the starting unit of the North are Llamados frontcourt tandem Mark Pingris (22,041) and Kerby Raymundo (15,381), with Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood, last year’s All-Star Game Most Valuable Player, filling up the last North starting spot with 12,744 votes.

Starting up front for the South are Barangay Ginebra’s Eric Menk, who garnered 23,571 votes, San Miguel’s Jay Washington (23,571) and Kelly Williams of Talk `N Text (20,439).

Talk `N Text’s Chot Reyes and Ato Agustin of San Miguel will call the shots for the South and North squads, respectively, after guiding their teams into the Philippine Cup Finals.

The South All Stars are raring to get back against their North counterparts after losing last year’s All-Star game by the skin of their teeth, 133-132, in Puerto Princesa City.