Fajardo tipped to make history anew in new year

Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

June Mar Fajardo is primed for another historic year as 2017 begins.

The three-time MVP is on the right track to win his fifth Best Player of the Conference as he leads all players in Statistical Points midway through the Philippine Cup.

Fajardo needs only one more Best Player of the Conference plum to match his mentor Danny Ildefonso for the most number of BPC awards with five.

The San Miguel center is averaging 44.2 SPs built on 20.2 points 17.2 rebounds that are both career-highs to go along 1.5 blocks.

GlobalPort guard Terrence Romeo is second to Fajardo averaging 37.5 SPs and his 27.0 points per game and 6.3 assists per game production are the highest in the league.

Fajardo’s San Miguel teammates Alex Cabagnot and Arwind Santos, the 2013 MVP, are also in the race for the BPC.

Cabagnot is putting up 18.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.2 steals is third with an average of 34.6 SPs. Santos is in sixth with 31.3 SPs.

Santos is averaging 14.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and a league-leading 2.3 blocks.

Belo in fifth

Mac Belo, the top pick of the 2016 PBA Draft, has been very comfortable in his role as the centerpiece of the Blackwater franchise as leads all rookies in SPs with a 33.0 average.

The do-it-all forward is averaging 17.0 points and 7.6 rebounds and his production also put him in fifth in the stats race.

Phoenix’ volume shooter Matthew Wright is second among rookies with 30.2 average SPs while putting up 17.5 points and grabbing 5.7 rebounds.

Wright is also ninth in the BPC race.

Jio Jalalon, Star’s pick in the Gilas Draft, is the third best rookie with 24.0 SPs with averages of 11.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.7 steals.