MVP favorite Fajardo, Beermen likely to banner Mythical Team
June Mar Fajardo. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
San Miguel may have failed on its Grand Slam bid, but June Mar Fajardo and company can still make history in the 2017 Leo Awards.
The Cebuano giant is poised to take home his fourth Most Valuable Player award, tying legends Ramon Fernandez and Alvin Patrimonio for the record of most MVP plums, but will be the first to achieve the feat in consecutive seasons.
Fajardo amassed 38.58 SPs to unsurprisingly top the overall statistical points race released at the end of the 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals. His continued dominance helped the Beermen achieve championships in this season’s Philippine Cup and Commissioner’s Cup.
Fajardo has already earned his part in history, tying his mentor Danny Ildefonso for most Best Player of the Conference plums at five after bagging the highest individual honor in the last 2017 Philippine Cup.
But it’s not all Fajardo, as his fellow San Miguel players are also poised to nab spots in the Mythical Teams.
Alex Cabagnot is running second in the MVP race with his 32.96 SPs, Arwind Santos is the top forward in the chase as he sits at fifth with his 30.97 SPs, and Marcio Lassiter sits ath 10th with his 29.55 SPs. Chris Ross is also likely to land a spot in the Mythical Teams after winning the BPC award in the Commissioner’s Cup as he is at eighth with his 30.40 SPs.
As much as three of San Miguel’s players could make it to the Mythical First Team, a feat that hasn’t been done since Purefoods’ James Yap, Kerby Raymundo, and Roger Yap made it in the 2005-06 season.
Other players have also made a case in the Mythical Team selection, with GlobalPort scorer Terrence Romeo at third with 32.01 SPs, TNT slasher Jayson Castro at fourth with 31.52 SPs, Japeth Aguilar of Ginebra at six (30.85 SPs), Stanley Pringle of GlobalPort at seven (30.63 SPs), and Calvin Abueva of Alaska at nine (30.11 SPs).
Meanwhile, the Rookie of the Year award race remains as a three-man chase.
Phoenix shooter Matthew Wright is still the top rookie with 26.07 SPs, but failing to help his team advance to the semifinals may hurt his candidacy.
Closely pursuing him are TNT swingman Roger Pogoy, who amassed 22.29 SPs, and Star playmaker Jio Jalalon, who had 21.50 SPs.
Landing at number four is Ginebra defender Kevin Ferrer, who has 15.64 SPs, and Kia guard Reden Celda, who netted 13.99 SPs.
The 2017 Leo Awards is set before Game 4 of the Ginebra-Meralco Finals series next Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
