A HULKING figure–all 6-foot-10 of him–was one of the earliest players who arrived and took early shots even as the lights were still off at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.
Unarguably one of the greatest players, if not the greatest, in pro league history, San Miguel Beer prized center June Mar Fajardo could have opted to just take it easy.
After all, he’s the reigning seven-time MVP with 10 titles and nine Best Player of the Conference awards.
But his greatness is not stopping, for now.
Fajardo bagged the PBA-NUSTAR Resort Cebu Best Player of the Conference award via runaway fashion last night further boosting his status as the league’s best.
Fajardo totaled 1,100 points built on 472 statistical points, 514 media votes, and 114 players’ votes for his 10th BPC plum.
Fajardo, 34, averaged 17.3 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists after the semifinals–and led the Beermen’s charge to the Big Dance of the import-less tourney.
Terrafirma rookie Stephen Holt wound up a far second in the race with 651 markers on the strength of 448 SPs, 197 media votes, and six nods from fellow cagers.
Eliminations pacesetter Robert Bolick of NLEX finished third with 641 points (472 SPs, 136 media votes, and 33 votes from players.
Fajardo’s teammate, CJ Perez, ended up fourth with 503 markers on a 429-21-26 tally, while Ginebra star Christian Standhardinger rounded up the top five with 476 points overall.
The Beermen and Meralco Bolts are locked in a fiery battle for the season-ending tilt’s crown, but they were united as one in boosting Filipino athletes for the Paris Olympics late next month.
Before the fourth game last night, the combatants wore Philippine Olympian-themed shirts with the names of the country’s bets on the back, showing support for the country’s bid for medals in the Games.
It was a touching gesture from the PBA as the teams proudly backed the Olympic hopefuls in the majestic French capital from July 26 to Aug. 11.
“Suportado ng PBA ang bawat atletang Pilipino at umaasa tayo na kasama natin ang mga fans sa pagsuporta sa mga atleta nating lalaban sa Paris 2024,” pro league chief Willie Marcial said.
Before tipoff, the league commemorated Independence Day by honoring members of the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police.
