Purefoods superstar James Yap underscored his soaring popularity in the recent balloting for starters of the North and South teams of this year's PBA All-Star Game, the PBA website said.

The former MVP from Escalante, Negros Occidental received 50,763 votes – highest among candidates from both teams – and earned his fifth start in the league's annual spectacle.

Interestingly, Yap – an All-Star starter in each of the last four years dating back to his rookie year in 2004 – was the only player voted by fans, either through actual voting at the game venue, in the host city of Bacolod or the league's official website, www.pba.ph., to breach the 50,000 mark.

Two other consistent starters – Coca-Cola big man Asi Taulava (36,312) and Talk N Text playmaker Jimmy Alapag (22,752) – join Yap in the South team that also includes Sta. Lucia's Kelly Williams (38,832) and Magnolia's Danny Seigle (38,448) in the frontcourt rotation.

Do-it-all Magnolia forward Mark Pingris was the top vote getter among the North All-Stars with 35,578 votes.

With him in the team are Purefoods' Kerby Raymundo (32,274), Magnolia hotshot Lordy Tugade (19,374) and the Barangay Ginebra backcourt duo of Mark Caguioa (29,775) and Jayjay Helterbrand (26,244).

A starter in the All-Star Game for the first time in his 8-year career, Tugade earned the spot by taking over the slot of Purefoods' Romel Adducul (21,903). The former San Sebastian King Stag is out of commission after being diagnosed with the Big C.

Tugade finished fourth behind Adducul in the balloting.

The remaining slots in both teams will be filled by the votes of all 10 PBA coaches prior to the All-Star Weekend in Bacolod City from April 24-27.

Helterbrand and Alaska's Willie Miller sparked a big endgame comeback by the North All-Stars in Baguio City last year to prevail, 145-142. The two emerged co-MVPs of the annual spectacle.

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and West Negros University president Suzette Agustin are working hand in hand to make the 2008 Smart PBA All-Star Weekend in the "City of Smiles" a smashing success, the website added.*

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