A HARROWING leg injury three years ago cast doubts on whether prized San Miguel Beer center June Mar Fajardo still has what it takes.
Fajardo, who will turn 34 on November 18, put to rest all those qualms by emerging as the PBA 47th season’s top cager anew yesterday.
The 6-foot-10 Fajardo bagged his seventh MVP award in runaway fashion, easily dominating a four-man derby for the coveted plum against erstwhile winner Scottie Thompson of Ginebra, teammate CJ Perez, and the Kings’ Christian Standhardinger in the annual Leo Awards at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.
Fajardo, who went down with a fracture on his right tibia during practice in February 2020, totaled 2,248 overall points–1,244 from statistical points, 152 player votes, and 852 media votes.
“Hindi ko talaga ini-expect na makakakuha pa ako ng isa pang MVP award kasi noong na-injure ako, sa totoo lang hindi ko inaasahan na makakabalik pa ako, na makaka-compete pa ako sa ganitong level ulit after noong injury ko,” Fajardo said. “Major iyong injury pero nagawan pa rin ng paraan.
“Thankful ako sa lahat ng doctors and nurses na nagtulong-tulong para sa operation ko. Siyempre, thankful din ako kay boss RSA (Ramon S. Ang, San Miguel Corporation President and CEO), kay boss Al (Alfrancis Chua, SMC sports director), boss Robert (Non, SMB team governor), sa coaching staff, teammates, PTs, and sa San Miguel management kasi nandoon sila and sinuportahan nila ako noong injured ako,” he added.
Standhardinger finished a far second with 1,559 points built on 1,040 SPs, 108 nods from fellow cagers, and 411 media votes, while Thompson, who won the award last year, wound up third with 1,539 markers.
Thompson beat Fajardo in the players’ votes with 166 but could only muster 1,099 SPs and 274 from the press. Perez received 1,177 points.
Fajardo, Standhardinger, Thompson, Perez, and Ginebra’s Jamie Malonzo were named to the Mythical First Team.
TNT’s Calvin Oftana, Robert Bolick of NorthPort, the Tropang Giga’s Mikey Williams, Calvin Abueva of Magnolia, and the Batang Pier’s Arvin Tolentino made up the Mythical Second Team.
Justin Arana of Converge captured the Rookie of the Year award, while Fajardo, Standhardinger, the Meralco pair of Cliff Hodge and Chris Newsome, and the Hotshots’ Jio Jalalon comprised the All-Defensive Team.
