High five
BOCAUE—June Mar Fajardo entered hallowed ground when he notched his fifth Most Valuable Player award during the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Leo Awards on Sunday at Philippine Arena here.
The 6-foot-10 San Miguel Beer star from Pinamungajan, Cebu, also eclipsed the four trophies of his mentor and PBA great Ramon Fernandez and Alvin Patrimonio.
But the underscoring motif of his dominance is how he pulled it off: Fajardo snared all his MVP trophies in successive fashion, leaving his rookie year as the only season when he didn’t secure the plum.
“Who would’ve thought that someone who was then a butt of jokes is now a five-time MVP?” Fajardo said in Filipino during his acceptance speech. “You never really know what life has in store for you. Basta mag-sikap ka lang (Just world hard).”
Later, Barangay Ginebra opened its Philippine Cup campaign with a 90-79 conquest of new-look TNT in the curtain-raiser of the 44th season.
The Gin Kings pounced on a lethargic KaTropa side, tallying six straight points to dictate the pace.
“They started with four smalls,” Ginebra coach Tim Cone said. “We were very concerned from the coaching staff’s point of view, we didn’t know how to match up. Luckily they didn’t shoot the three-ball as well as they normally do.”
TNT managed to narrow the gap to just two points in the third period, 57-59, behind Roger Pogoy’s effort, but Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter pairing down low proved too much for the KaTropa to handle.
Aguilar finished with 21 points, while Slaughter added 15.
“Now we’re looking to play the big boy—San Miguel—on Sunday,” Cone said of their next assignment.
Fajardo was also named to the All-Defensive Team where he joined teammate Chris Ross, Magnolia’s Rome dela Rosa and Rafi Reavis, and Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood.
Fajardo likewise made Season 43’s First Mythical Team comprised of Magnolia’s Paul Lee, NorthPort and MVP runner-up Stanley Pringle, SMB teammate Marcio Lassiter and Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar.
Jason Perkins of Phoenix Fuel took the Rookie of the Year award, Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson was named Most Improved Player and the Samboy Lim Sportsmanship Award went to Norwood.
Fajardo garnered a total of 2,436 points to beat Pringle, his closest pursuer who collected 2,041 points.
“I’m lucky enough to be a part of San Miguel Beer. I feel like if I was playing for another team, I won’t even have a chance winning this,” said Fajardo, who was joined by his parents Bonifacio and Marites.
“I have excellent teammates, and most of the time, we’re in the playoffs.
