JUNE Mar Fajardo lamented San Miguel not making the finals of the PBA Governors’ Cup and winning yet another Best Player of the Conference award hardly soothed the pain.
The 34-year-old big man said it would have been more satisfying bagging a record-extending 11th BPC honor had the Beermen advanced to the championship round of the import-laden conference.
READ June Mar Fajardo wins 11th BPC award; RHJ is Best Import
Unfortunately, Barangay Ginebra Kings stood in their way and booted the Beermen out in six games in their semifinals duel.
“Mas masaya kasi kapag nag-champion. Lahat nakakatanggap ng incentives. Kasi pag BPC, ako lang,” said the eight-time MVP. “'Pag champion kami, lahat ng mga teammates ko, ball boys, lahat nagkaka-incentive.”
Fajardo tallied 989 total points to deny Japeth Aguilar a first-ever BPC award. Aguilar finished with a 664 total to finish second behind his close friend.
Asked about beating the Ginebra high-flyer for the coveted individual award, Fajardo said Aguilar is just as deserving of the honor especially after carrying the Kings' frontcourt following the exit of Christian Standhardinger.
“Maganda rin yung naging conference ni Japeth,” he said. "Pero sa akin na lang muna yung BPC, sa kanya na muna 'yung championship.”
Despite having the most number of BPC awards in the 49-year history of Asia’s oldest professional basketball league, Fajardo said he never gets tired of winning the honor.
“Hindi ako nagsasawa kasi darating din yung araw, lilipas din ako, matatapos din yung career ko sa PBA. Kaya hangga’t nandito ako, kung hangga’t saan ang kaya kong ibigay, ibibigay ko,” he explained.
“Para pagdating ng panahon, wala na akong iisipin, wala na akong regrets.”
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