THE VERY BEST: June Mar Fajardo AUGUST DELA CRUZ
JUNE Mar Fajardo, San Miguel Beer’s injured cornerstone, won his fourth Best Player of the Conference award in a most impressive fashion yesterday.
After leading the Smart Bro-Philippine Cup in scoring, rebounding and shot blocks, the 6-foot-10 center was also the overwhelming winner in media and player votes to finish with 1,407 points.
Greg Slaughter of Barangay Ginebra was a far second with 604.
It was the most one-sided BPC race since 2011, when Jay Washington, then with San Miguel, won by 665 over TNT’s Harvey Carey in the all-Filipino.
Fajardo’s second straight win put him in second place in the all-time list of BPC winners, just one shy of mentor Danny Ildefonso.
Fajardo, who made his first public appearance during the Nice Day Coffee-sponsored awards rite since twisting his left knee against Rain or Shine two weeks ago, also fired up his bid for an unprecedented third straight season-MVP.
Fajardo averaged 26 points, 14.9 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 3.4 assists. He also shot an eye-popping 59.1 percent from the field, the best in the tournament.
Slaughter also finished second in statistical points to tally 803.
Asi Taulava (496) placed third, followed by NLEX teammate Sean Anthony (473) and Willy Wilson of Barako Bull (449).