Fajardo still leads MVP race; Taulava rises

June Mar Fajardo FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—San Miguel’s sophomore giant June Mar Fajardo remains ahead of the pack in the race for the 2013-2014 PBA Most Valuable Player.

Fajardo, who was named the All-Filipino Cup’s Best Player of the Conference, leads with 24.4 statistical points after the recently-concluded Commissioner’s Cup.

Fajardo’s veteran teammate Arwind Santos comes in second place with 23.0 SPs, his shot for a second straight MVP still very much alive.

Talk N’ Text’s Jayson Castro, meanwhile, jumped from sixth place to third after amassing 22.4 SPs from his Best Player of the Conference-worthy showing in the Commissioner’s Cup.

The 41-year-old Asi Taulava, who has been defying age with a phenomenal performance for Air21 since last conference, also made a big leap from eighth place to the top four with 20.7 SPs.

Ginebra’s towering center Greg Slaughter, a cinch for rookie of the year, completes the top five with 20.6 SPs.

Rounding up the top 10 are Talk N’ Text’s Ranidel De Ocampo (20.3 SPs), Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar (19.9), Globalport’s Jay Washington (19.4), San Mig Coffee’s Marc Pingris (18.7), and Meralco’s Gary David (18.43).

Pingris is the highest ranked played from the Grand Slam-seeking Mixers.

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