PBA: June Mar Fajardo still leads BPC race but Ginebra duo close behind

June Mar Fajardo (15) and Japeth Aguilar (25) are among the frontrunners for Best Player of the Conference in the PBA Governors’ Cup.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines-San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo maintained the highest Statistical Points at the end of the semifinals but could see his chances of winning the PBA Governors’ Cup Best Player of the Conference slip away at the hands of Barangay Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar or Scottie Thompson.

Fajardo posted an average of 44.8 based on the tabulations released by the league Saturday to remain ahead over NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino (37.5), NLEX’s Robert Bolick (35.9) and the duo of Aguilar and Thompson.

Aguilar and Thompson have identical 32.2 Statistical Points, but their roles in sending Ginebra to the Finals against TNT may bolster either player’s bid to wrest the individual honor that will make them automatic candidates for the Most Valuable Player award at season’s end.

READ: June Mar Fajardo extends record with 8th PBA MVP

Forty-five percent of the statistics will be used to determine the winner as the remaining criteria will come from the media (30%) and players (25%).

Despite being ahead in terms of stats, Fajardo’s quest for a record-extending 11th BPC could be derailed after the Beermen lost to Aguilar, Thompson and the Gin Kings in their semifinal series that went six games.

Aguilar has never won the BPC in his career while Thompson’s been a two-time winner in the 2021-22 Governors’ Cup and 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup.

The winner will be named before Game 4 of the Ginebra-TNT Finals duel on Nov. 3 at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Tolentino and Bolick are sure long shots after their respective teams were eliminated earlier in the conference.