Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
It took the legendary Ramon Fernandez 16 years to claim his fourth PBA MVP, while Alvin Patrimonio played nine years to earn his fourth.
June Mar Fajardo needed just five.
San Miguel’s jovial center raised his fourth MVP trophy during the Leo Awards on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum, basically cementing his reputation as the greatest player of his era.
Fajardo also did what neither Fernandez nor Patrimonio was able to achieve, and that was to win his fourth MVP in four straight years.
“I’m thankful to my parents because I’ve achieved so much in life because of them, they are my inspiration,” said Fajardo in Filipino.
The 27-year-old edged out San Miguel teammates Alex Cabagnot, Chris Ross, and Arwind Santos, TNT’s Jayson Castro and Kelly Williams, Ginebra’s LA Tenorio and Japeth Aguilar, and Meralco’s Cliff Hodge.
Fajardo accumulated a total of 2,886 points that include statistics and votes from other players, the media, and PBA officials.
And even though he just achieved a feat nobody in the history of the PBA did, Fajardo said he doesn’t want to be remembered for the hardware he collected in his career.
“I want to be remembered not just for the championships or awards I won, I want to be remembered for the person I am in the PBA,” said Fajardo. “I want to be remembered as someone who was a good example to the youth. That’s the legacy I want to leave behind.”
The Beermen, meanwhile, made history with four players making it to the First Mythical team. Teammates Ross, Cabagnot, Fajardo and Santos was included in the the prestigious selection along with the Kings’ Aguilar .
Fajaro had the most points in the First Mythical Team with 753 with Aguilar at far second with 474.
Beermen Ross, Santos, and Cabagnot had 441, 437, and 423 points, respectively.
Castro and Williams, Tenorio and teammate Joe DeVance, Cliff Hodge made up the second Mythical team.
TNT’s point guard had 371 points to lead the second team with Tenorio close behind at 348 while Devance had 330.
Williams amassed 287 points while Hodge had 262.