June Mar Fajardo. PBA PHOTO
AFTER his God, there is a much smaller man that June Mar Fajardo has continued to thank for his march into the history books of the PBA.
The 6-foot-10 franchise player of San Miguel Beer last night was crowned the MVP for the second straight year, becoming just the fourth player to earn the accolade —and the second youngest—while looking so much capable of winning more.
“Special thanks goes to my brother (Jay), who is the real basketball nut in the family,” said Fajardo, who hails from the agricultural town of Pinamungahan in Cebu, in Filipino.
“I really didn’t have an inclination for the sport; I was just the one who was blessed with the height,” added Fajardo.
“He (Jay) was the one who woke me up every morning during my elementary and high school days. He was the one who made me work hard.”
Fajardo scooped up four citations in yesterday’s Annual Leo Awards at Smart Araneta Coliseum, a short ceremony that preceded Game 4 of San Miguel Beer’s Governors’ Cup championship series with Alaska. The Beermen won the first three games.
Fajardo said he was still a scrawny 6-foot-2 when the 5-6 Jay, an older brother, woke him up every morning to take him to the village courts.
“I was a late bloomer,” he said. “He was the one who really loved to play.”
Fajardo is just a few months older than former teammate and mentor Danny Ildefonso when the latter first won the award. He became just the fourth man after Ildefonso, Bogs Adornado and Alvin Patrimonio to win it in two successive years.
Ildefonso pulled off the feat in 2000-2001; Adornado in 1975-1976 and Patrimonio in 1993 and 1994.
Jason Castro of Talk ‘N Text, Greg Slaughter of Barangay Ginebra, Arwind Santos of San Miguel and Rain or Shine point guard Paul Lee joined Fajardo in the Mythical First Team.
Alaska’s Calvin Abueva, the man who nosed out Fajardo for the Rookie of the Year award three seasons ago, Ranidel de Ocampo of Talk ‘N Text, Asi Taulava of NLEX and Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle of Globalport earned second team selections.
Pringle was also adjudged the Rookie of the Year, while Romeo, after leading all locals in scoring for the season, was named the Most Improved Player.
Romeo made an astounding leap. After finishing 44th in the Statistical Points race last season, he placed sixth this year and almost became an MVP candidate.
Fajardo, who was also chosen for the Sportsmanship Award, spearheaded the All-Defensive Team that included Abueva, Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine, Chris Ross of San Miguel Beer and Ping Exciminiano of Alaska.