JUNE MAR Fajardo continued to personify greatness in the PBA, bagging the MVP for an unprecedented eighth time on Sunday during the 48th Season Leo Awards.
The San Miguel big man defeated teammate CJ Perez and Christian Standhardinger, now of Terrafirma, for the league's highest individual honor, which gave him twice as many MVPs as any other player in league history.
Ramon Fernandez and Alvin Patrimonio are tied for second with four MVPs each.
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"Sana next year uli," the 6-foor-10 Cebuano said, drawing laughs from the crowd at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Fajardo was the overwhelming winner of the award, winning in the statistics, media votes, and player votes by wide margins over Perez and Standhardinger.
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Fajardo, who won his seven previous MVP awards from 2014 to 2019 and again in 2023, was joined in the First Mythical Team by Perez, Standhardinger, Arvin Tolentino of NorthPort, and Chris Newsome of Meralco.
Cliff Hodge of Meralco, Calvin Oftana of TNT, Jason Perkins of Phoenix, Stephen Holt of Barangay Ginebra, and Juami Tiongson of Terrafirma were named to the Second Mythical Team.
For making it to the Second Mythical Team, Holt, who previously played for Terrafirma last season, claimed the Rookie of the Year honors.
The 34-year-old Fajardo was also the headliner in the All-Defensive Team where he was joined by Newsome, Hodge, Kemark Carino of Terrafirma, and Joshua Munzon of NorthPort.
Jhonard Clarito of Rain or Shine bagged the Most Improved Player award, while Paul Zamar of NorthPort was the recipient of the Sportsmanship of the Year honor.
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