By REYNALD MAGALLON
June Mar Fajardo is once again primed for another Most Valuable Player award as the PBA honors the best of the best from the Season 49 with its Leo Awards at the Novotel Hotel just before the 50th Season opening on Sunday, Oct. 5.
The 6-foot-10 San Miguel center emerged as the frontrunner once more to the league’s highest individual honor after winning the Best Player of the Conference plums in the Governors’ Cup and the Philippine Cup.
Crowding Fajardo in the MVP race are former NorthPort star Arvin Tolentino and NLEX super scorer Robert Bolick.
While the two had made their cases – with Tolentino winning the Commissioner’s Cup BPC award and Bolick being a consistent contender to the top honors in all of the three conferences – what they have achieved this conference pale in comparison to the success Fajardo had.
Tolentino could only tow NorthPort to the semifinals of the mid-season conference while Bolick’s NLEX never got past the quarterfinals.
Fajardo’s SMB, on the other hand, despite missing out on the playoffs in the Commissioner’s Cup, went on to win the Philippine Cup.
Statistics-wise, Fajardo is head and shoulders above the others.
The Cebuano giant posted 42.1 Statistical Points during Season 48 far ahead of Bolick which has 36.7 SPs and Tolentino with 35.3 SPs.
Being part of the nominees for the MVP award, the three naturally lead the list of Mythical Team nominees that also featured CJ Perez, RJ Abarrientos, Sedrick Barefield, Chris Newsome, Adrian Nocum, Rey Nambatac, Joshua Munzon, RR Pogoy, Schonny Winston, Alec Stockton and Scottie Thompson for the guards.
For the center and forwards, Fajardo and Tolentino are joined by Calvin Oftana, Japeth Aguilar, Justin Arana, Jason Perkins and Zav Lucero.
The Rookie of the Year plum, meanwhile, is being contested by Abarrientos, Barefield, Caelan Tiongson, Kai Ballungay and CJ Cansino.
Also to be awarded during The Leos are the All-Defensive teams and the Sportsmanship Award.
