Cebuano Fajardo poised to win record-extending 10th PBA MVP award

Sports

ELITE Cebuano big man June Mar Fajardo of the San Miguel Beermen is making a strong case for yet another Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Fajardo, the 36-year-old center from Pinamungajan, Cebu, emerged as the statistical leader after a strong showing in the Philippine Cup and Commissioner’s Cup of the PBA Season 50.

The 6-foot-10 Fajardo earned 29.8 statistical points (SPs) combined for the All-Filipino conference (40 percent) and Commissioner’s Cup (30 percent), cementing his bid for a record-extending 10th MVP award.

In the 37 games that he played in the season, Fajardo averaged 17.0 points, a league-best 16.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists a game in a solid run highlighted by his winning of the Best Player of the Conference accolade in the Philippine Cup.

Fajardo is closely trailed by Robert Bolick of the NLEX Road Warriors, rookie Juan Gomez De Liano of the Converge FiberXers,Zavier Lucero of the Magnolia Hotshosts, and Justin Baltazar also of Converge.

Bolick accumulated 26.7 SPs after tallying season averages of 19.2 points, 8.3 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.5 steals a game.

Gomez De Liano is at third with 23.6 SPs anchored on averages of 17.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.0 steals per outing.

The big numbers placed De Liano as the leading candidate for the Rookie of the Year award.

Lucero is fourth with 23.3 SPs after averages of 15.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and a season-best 2.0 block shots.

Sophomore Baltazar rounds up the Top 5 list with 23.2 SPs behind a double-double of 13.5 points and 11.9 rebounds along with 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals.(CCM)