Cade Flores admits he finds All-Star RSJ omission 'disrespectful'

Cade Flores admits he finds All-Star RSJ omission ‘disrespectful’

NORTHPORT rookie Cade Flores didn’t hide his disappointment on not being made part of this year’s PBA All-Star festivities.

While he has nothing against the rookies, sophomores, and junior players who were chosen to play in the Team Greats vs. Team Stalwarts, Flores felt the selection process boiled down to a popularity contest.

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“I was like, probably it was a popularity contest,” said Flores when asked about his snub in the All-Star festivities to be held in Bacolod City from March 22-24.

“If it was based on stats, then I should be there,” said the former Arellano standout, who is running second behind Terrafirma’s Stephen Holt in the race for the Rookie of the Year award at the end of the season-opening Commissioner’s Cup.

Based on the official voting results, those who made the 20-man list to comprise Team Greats and Team Stalwarts include Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Javi Gomez De Liano, Jerrick Ahanmisi, Justin Arana, Ralph Cu, Andrei Caracut, RK Ilagan, Gian Mamuyac, James Laput, Shaun Ildefonso, Kyt Jimenez, Keith Datu, Fran Yu, John Amores, Adrian Nocum, Kim Aurin, Anton Asistio, Santi Santillan, Keith Zaldivar, and Holt.

Kenneth Tuffin, Joshua Munzon, Alec Stockton, and JM Calma were added to the selection as part of the coaches and media votes.

From the media, those who got votes were Tuffin, Flores, Munzon, and Aurin.

Flores thought there may be some flaws in the way selections were made considering the hard work he put in as a first-round pick by the Batang Pier (No. 11 overall), who eventually made it to the regular rotation of coach Bonnie Tan.

“I was kind of mad just because I felt I was not respected,” he said. “Yeah, a little disrespectful, but it is what it is.”

Snub serves as motivation

The 6-foot-5 former NCAA Rookie and Defensive Player of the Year said the omission should only motivate him to show the league what he’s got.

“I just got to play better and show what I got for this conference,” he said.

Flores was quick to back up his words as he finished with 14 points and 14 rebounds in Northport’s 112-104 come-from-behind win over Converge in overtime Sunday for the team’s breakthrough win in the PBA Philippine Cup.