STANLEY Pringle is making a last-minute run to challenge June Mar Fajardo for the season’s PBA MVP title.
But will it be enough to stop Fajardo on his track of winning a historic fifth straight MVP plum?
As per statistics released by the league at the end of the eliminations, the prolific NorthPort guard has passed the reigning four-time MVP after posting a cumulative average of 35.5 points, while relegating the San Miguel big man at second place with 33.2 points.
The drop in Fajardo’s numbers was due to the injury he suffered just before the season-ending Governors Cup and only saw action in two games, which resulted into just 11.00 points in the statistical points standings.
Until he was sidelined, the 6-foot-11 Fajardo was the stats leader all season-long.
Pringle and the Batang Pier, however, failed to advance to the playoffs.
The Beermen did make the quarterfinals, but were ousted by the Alaska Aces on Wednesday night, 96-85, at the Astrodome.
Fajardo though remains a strong contender of making history anew as he won back-to-back Best Player of the Conference during the Philippine Cup and Commissioner’s Cup, respectively.
Running third in the MVP race is Barangay Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar with 32.9 points, followed by Sean Anthony of NorthPort (31.3), and Scottie Thompson also of Ginebra (30.8)
Rounding out the Top 10 are Phoenix Petroleum’s Matthew Wright (30.6), three SMB stars in Alex Cabagnot (30.2), Arwind Santos (30.0), and Marcio Lassiter (29.9), along with Alaska Milk new main man Vic Manuel (29.0).
Phoenix’s Jason Perkins meanwhile, remains the leading contender for the Rookie of the Year award.
Perkins has tallied 23.4 points, while trailing him is former La Salle teammate Jeron Teng of Alaska with 18.3 points.
Top draft pick Christian Standhardinger and No. 2 selection Kiefer Ravena are out of the race as they failed to meet the required minimum number of games a contender must play in the season.
