ALL roads point to June Mar Fajardo running away with a record-extending ninth PBA MVP trophy on Sunday when the best of Season 49 is honored during the annual Leo Awards.
The soft-spoken giant that he is, Fajardo said he continues to count his blessings, especially for someone like him who didn’t begin playing the game until late in his teens.
“Sino ba naman ang mag-aakala, 'di ba? Hindi naman ako dati mahilig sa basketball, tapos baka pagpalarin na makaka-nine time tayo ng MVP,” said the 35-year-old big man.
“Hindi talaga natin masasabi yung buhay. Tapos ngayon ang layo ng narating ko sa basketball.”
His basketball journey is expected to further reach new heights before the start of the new season, as no miracle is expected to happen that will deny Fajardo another MVP plum.
The San Miguel stalwart holds a huge lead over fellow contenders Robert Bolick of NLEX and NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino in the battle for the league's top individual honor.
Fajardo amassed a total of 42.1 statistical points (SPs) to finish at No. 1, followed by Bolick with 36.7 SPs and Tolentino with 35.3 SPs.
The product of University of Cebu also claimed the Best Player of the Conference awards during the Governors’ and Philippine Cups, while winning the championship in the latter tournament.
SPs alone takes a 45-percent share of the pie, while media votes carry a weight of 30-percent and players’ votes, 25-percent.
Fajardo led the league in rebounding last season with 16.1 and shot 60-percent from the field to rank third in scoring with an average of 19.2.
As the top three MVP candidates, Fajardo, Bolick, and Tolentino also lead the nominees for the Mythical selections.
For all of these, the 6-foot-11 Fajardo remained grateful.
“Thankful ako kay God sa mga blessings na binibigay niya sa akin at sa mga blessings na parating,” he added during the PBA Season 50 Fans Day at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
