Why there are two Johto starters in Legends ZA Explained

I wanted to say that I used this information from HoopsandHiphop.

Kalos is already where the game takes place.

Paldea starters were JUST introduced.

Gen 8 starters are out because if ZA gives the final evos regional variants, and also adding that in irl France and the UK are right next to each other, then that wouldn't make sense.

Sinnoh just had the spotlight getting new games.

Snivy is already French themed so it wouldn't make sense to give it a French variation. And Oshawott was already a starter. So that leaves Tepig.

Chicorita is the only grass starter we could choose from to put in this game.

Popplio is a water starter pokemon could have chosen. But if they did, then it would be the most disliked starter trio OAT.

So to balance it out, they had to choose Totodile. Probably because they didn't want the backlash from choosing Chicorita, Tepig and Popplio.