June Mar Fajardo from Petron Blaze Boosters. Nuki Sabio/PBA
MANILA, Philippines — Petron sophomore center June Mar Fajardo bagged the Best Player of the Conference honor for the 2014 PLDT MyDSL Philippine Cup by an overwhelming margin.
Fajardo, who received the award on Friday before game four of the finals between Rain or Shine and San Mig Coffee at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, received 1,268 points — at least 500 more than second placer Arwind Santos
The 24-year-old Cebuano led in statistics with 436 as he averaged 16.4 points, 14.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.6 blocks in the elimination round and the post season.
But Fajardo got the biggest boost from the votes from the media, co-players and the PBA office where he garnered 565, 117 and 150, respectively.
“This is a good achievement for me. I thank God, the fans, media and management for this,” said Fajardo in Filipino in a deep voice.
Fajardo, though, has only reached the finals once in his young career but with his tremendous potential, there is no doubt he’ll get back there again.
“I always play help my team, and my goal is to help then win the championship,” Fajardo said.
Santos, the league’s reigning most valuable player, was a far second with 402 points from stats, 268 from media, just 32 from the players and 25 from the PBA for a total of 727 points.
Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar, who was one of the front runners at the end of the elimination round but whose numbers dipped in the playoffs, wound up third with 531 points.
Tied at third is Aguilar’s rookie teammate Greg Slaughter who also garnered 531 points. Globalport forward Jay Washington came in last with 398 points.