Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
June Mar Fajardo is once again on track to make PBA history.
The reigning four-time PBA Most Valuable Player is on pace for a record-breaking sixth Best Player of the Conference award.
Fajardo is well ahead of his peers in the statistical points (SPs) race after the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup elimination round with 44.1 SPs.
The Cebuano center leads the league in scoring with 22.8 points, and is second in rebounds with 13.2 boards, and blocks with 2.1 per game, helping defending three-time Philippine Cup champion San Miguel earn the top seed ahead of the quarterfinals.
Once again, @TheSMBeermen’s June Mar Fajardo leads the BPC race for the #PBA2018 Philippine Cup after the eliminations. Teammate @arwindsotnas is at 2nd. pic.twitter.com/tlbQgYzCa0
— Randolph B. Leongson (@RLeongsonINQ) March 5, 2018
Fajardo, who has won the BPC plum in the last four editions of the all-Filipino conference, is currently tied with his mentor Danny Ildefonso for the most BPC awards with five.
At distant second is Beermen teammate Arwind Santos, who collected 37.6 SPs after netting 16.3 markers, 10.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.0 blocks, and 1.4 steals.
GlobalPort guard Stanley Pringle is in third with 35.6 SPs after norming 20.2 markers, 7.5 boards, and 4.6 dimes, while Blackwater big man JP Erram is in fourth with 35.3 SPs after leading the league in rebounding (13.8 boards) and blocks (2.9) on top of his 14.2 points.
Rounding out the top five is Ginebra forward Japeth Aguilar, who amassed 34.2 SPs.
Completing the top 10 are Marcio Lassiter of San Miguel (32.4 SPs), Scottie Thompson of Ginebra (32.3 SPs), Sean Anthony of GlobalPort (32.2 SPs), Paul Lee of Magnolia (31.5 SPs), and Matthew Wright of Phoenix (31.4 SPs).
As expected, NLEX guard Kiefer Ravena is topping all rookies in the statistical points race, gathering 27.0 SPs thanks to his averages of 15.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.9 steals to finish 22nd overall.
Closely chasing him is Alaska swingman Jeron Teng (25.2 SPs), followed by Phoenix bruiser Jason Perkins (22.3 SPs), Blackwater big man Raymar Jose (20.3 SPs), and Magnolia sniper Robbie Herndon (15.8 SPs).