Fajardo, the league’s only six-time MVP, topped the list with 37,915 votes.
Barangay Ginebra stars Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar and Jamie Malonzo, meanwhile, were also among the top vote-getters.
Thompson, the reigning MVP, is closely behind Fajardo with 37,759 while high-fliers Aguilar and Malonzo follow with 37,322 votes and 32,988, respectively.
Magnolia forward Calvin Abueva places fifth with 32,503.
Completing the top 10 are San Miguel’s CJ Perez (31,184), Ginebra’s Christian Standhardinger (29,821), Rain or Shine’s James Yap (28,117), and Gin Kings’ LA Tenorio (28,027) and Stanley Pringle (27,441).
Voting began on January 25 and will end on February 15.
Taking a page out of the NBA’s All-Star format, the top two players finishing with the most votes will serve as team captains and earn the right to form their respective teams through drafting.
This year’s All-Star festivities, the first after a three-year absence due to the pandemic, will be held from March 9 to 12 in Passi City, Iloilo.
Ginebra’s Tim Cone and Rain or Shine’s Yeng Guiao lead the voting for the top two coaches.
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PBA: Jonathon Simmons fires 45, NLEX comes back to beat TNT
MANILA, Philippines—Jonathon Simmons sparked NLEX to a come-from-behind 110-108 win over TNT on Wednesday in the penultimate game of his short stint in the PBA Governors’ Cup at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Simmons sizzled for 45 points as the Road Warriors overcame a 15-point deficit and moved into a share of the lead with the idle Converge FiberXers at 3-0 at the expense of their sister team Tropang Giga.
“I really don’t know what happened and how we won the game. I thought it was a lost ballgame,” said NLEX coach Frankie Lim.
NLEX prevailed despite weathering the early onslaught of TNT’s Jalen Hudson, who scored 21 of his 39 points in the first quarter.
But the Road Warriors brought their way back led by Simmons and with help from teammates who were also key in the win.
Kevin Alas scored 10 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter, Sean Anthony produced 15 points and six rebounds while Tony Semerad and Kris Rosales combined for 18 points.
The Road Warriors got the lead after 10 straight points, with Simmons capping it off with a jumper for 104-98.
But TNT got a chance to force overtime with five seconds left but RR Pogoy, who had 21 points, missed a layup before the buzzer.
TNT lost after two wins to open the season-ending conference.
The Scores:
NLEX 110 — Simmons 45, Anthony 15, Alas 13, Semerad 10, Trollano 9, Rosales 8, Nieto 7, Ganuelas-Rosser 3, Pascual 0, Gabo 0.
TNT 108 — Hudson 39, Pogoy 21, Khobuntin 10, Castro 10, Montalbo 6, Tungcab 5, Ganuelas-Rosser 4, Chua 3, K.Williams 2, M.Williams 2, Varilla 2, Marcelo 0.
Quarters: 28-31, 49-56, 78-91, 110-108.
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