Back-to-back MVP Fajardo hauls 4 awards; Pringle named top rookie
San Miguel Beer center June Mar Fajardo hoists one of the four trophies he won in the 2015 Leo Awards Friday night. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.NET
San Miguel Beer center June Mar Fajardo hauled four awards including his second MVP trophy in the 2015 Leo Awards Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum after posting another stellar season for the winningest club in PBA history.
The 6-foot-10 Fajardo also headlined the Mythical First Team along with teammate and 2013 MVP Arwind Santos, and was named into the All-Defensive Team.
Fajardo said winning a second consecutive MVP is in itself a “blessing” and joining an exclusive club is another different achievement.
“Of course this is a blessing for me, and joining the players who won back-to-back MVP’s is truly amazing,” Fajardo said in Filipino. “I want to cherish this moment.”
He joined Bogs Adornado, Alvin Patrimonio, and his mentor Danny Ildefonso as the only back-to-back MVP winners in PBA history. The former Beermen great Ildefonso was the last player to achieve the rare feat in 1999-2000 before Fajardo, his prized student, duplicated it.
Joining the Beermen duo of Fajardo-Santos are Jayson Castro of Talk ‘N Text, Paul Lee of Rain or Shine, and Greg Slaughter of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine, Calvin Abueva and Ping Exciminiano of Alaska and Fajardo’s teammate Chris Ross also made it to the defensive squad.
The Mythical Second Team consisted of Asi Taulava of NLEX, Ranidel de Ocampo of Talk ‘N Text, Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle of Globalport and Abueva.
The spitfire guard Pringle, the top overall pick in the 2014 Draft, was named Rookie of the Year – besting Chris Banchero of Alaska and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser of Talk ‘N Text.
The 25-year-old Fajardo beat Castro and Slaughter for the individual plum.
Fajardo, the most dominant player in the league today, also bagged this year’s Sportsmanship Award.
“Kailangan cool lang sa court kasi hindi dapat magpapadala sa emosyon kasi mawawala ka sa focus sa paglalaro (You just have to be cool on the court because if you let your emotions get the best of you, you will lose your focus),” said Fajardo, who is looking to help the Beermen become just the fifth team in the league’s long history to sweep a best-of-seven title series later in Game 4 against the Aces.
Romeo is also this year’s Most Improved Player.
“Iniisip ko lang na everyday kailangan nag-i-improve ako (I think of it as everyday I need to improve),” said the former Far Eastern University guard.
