WELL-KNOWN memorabilia collector Boss Toyo considered the first MVP trophy of June Mar Fajardo as the most cherished item in his sports collections.
The 44-year-old vlogger – Jayson Jay Luzadas in real life – emerged as the highest bidder in the special auction for the first of the record nine MVP awards of the San Miguel Beer superstar, a memento which he said will be keepsake in a special place in his popular Pinoy Pawnstars Museum.
“Sa sports memorabilia ko ito na ‘yung holy grail ko na first MVP trophy ni June Mar,” said Boss Toyo when he finally received the prize-possession from Fajardo himself during the PBA Philippine Cup game between San Miguel and Meralco.
“I will rank it first kasi June Mar Fajardo, e. After mag-retire niyan, sa tingin ko wala ng makaka-surpass nung mga nagawa ni June Mar as a PBA player and we’re already on our 50th year.”
READ: Cone, Ginebra feel fortunate to survive Fajardo's monster numbers
Boss Toyo bid for the award when TV5, in cooperation with the Alagang Kapatid Foundation Inc. and the PBA, initiated a fund drive whose proceeds will be given to help the families affected by typhoons Tino and Uwan.
Various sports items from playing jerseys, sneakers, bags, outfits, among others, courtesy of PBA and PVL players and TV5 personalities were auctioned online.
Fajardo raised the ante when he decided to put on sale his first MVP trophy, making it the highest valued out of the all items auctioned.
Boss Toyo won the bidding by acquiring the trophy for P160,000.
He said he was monitoring the bidding process online and appeared surprise since the initial bids were a little bit lower.
“Hindi ko akalain na medyo mababa (bidding),” Boss Toyo recalled, noting the initial highest bid was at P30,000.
He doubled the amount at P60,000, and then later raised the ante to six figures.
When the bidding was nearing its cutoff, Boss Toyo made his final offer.
“Naka-monitor din kasi ako. Nung medyo ilang minuto na lang, bigla akong nag-bid pa. So sa akin na-award yung trophy na ito,” he said.
A long-time PBA fan and brand ambassador of Ginebra, Boss Toyo said he was surprised Fajardo had to part ways with such a memorable hardware that serves as reminder of how the greatness of the 6-foot-10 center began in Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league.
“Nagulat din ako na for charity ibinigay ito ni June Mar. For me, kung ako siya, sa tingin ko walang halaga yung ganitong klase ng trophy kasi first MVP (niya) ito sa PBA,” said Boss Toyo.
“Kung ako lang ang tatanungin, malabo na ibenta ko siya.”
That’s why Boss Toyo tipped his hat off to Fajardo, who curiously, also donated his own personal money to likewise help victims of the two killer typhoons.
Asked on where does the trophy rank in his all-time collection in his museum, he said it is also up there among his most prized possessions, among them the clothes and photos of the late king of Filipino rap Francis M and the double platinum award of international singer and host Billy Crawford.
“For sure nasa holy grail section ito at talagang aalagaan natin ito,” he said.
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