Fajardo leads the MVP stats in season-ending PBA Governors’ Cup

Games on Friday
(Ynares Center-Antipolo)
5:15 p.m. – Terrafirma vs Titan
7:30 p.m. – Macau vs NLEX

SAN Miguel Beermen (SMB) behemoth June Mar Fajardo is hot on the hunt for a record-extending 10^th Most Valuable Player (MVP) accolade in the PBA.

After finishing third in the Best Player of the Conference (BPC) derby of the Commissioner’s Cup that followed his earlier BPC win in the Philippine Cup, Mr. Fajardo strengthened his hold of pole position in the MVP stats race heading into the season-ending Governors’ Cup.

“The Kraken” piled up 29.8 average statistical points (SPs) built around 17 points, a league-best 16.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists to show the way against challengers led by NLEX ace Robert Bolick (26.7) and Converge super rookie Juan Gomez de Liaño (23.6).

Mr. Bolick boosted his stock with solid all-around averages of 19.2 markers, 5.2 boards and a league-high 8.3 dimes while Mr. Gomez de Liano kept himself in the mix with his brilliant 17.6-point, 6.5-rebound, 5.9-assist and 1.0-steal production per night.

Magnolia’s Zav Lucero ran fourth at 23.3, building his case on impressive 15.7 markers, 9.2 boards, 2.1 feeds and a league-best two blocks, followed by Converge big man Justine Baltazar (23.2).

Barangay Ginebra’s RJ Abarrientos, who won his first BPC plum while helping the Gin Kings to the Commissioner’s Cup title last month, sat at No. 6 with 22.8 SPs behind 18.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.4 steals.

Commissioner’s Cup Finals MVP Scottie Thompson (13.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists) occupied seventh at 22.61 followed by SMB’s CJ Perez at 22.57, Titan Ultra’s Joshua Munzon, the league’s premier scorer (20.6) and steals leader (2.4) at 22.3 and Converge slotman Justin Arana at 21.22.

Just outside the Top 10 were TNT’s Calvin Oftana (21.19), Phoenix’ Ricci Rivero (20.1), SMB’s Don Trollano (19.2), Meralco’s CJ Cansino (19.1) and Blackwater’s Sedrick Barefield (18.9).

Mr. Gomez de Liaño, meanwhile, stayed well ahead in the Rookie of the Year honors dispute, holding a sizable cushion against Terrafirma’s JM Bravo (12.4), Magnolia’s Chris Koon (9.3) and Blackwater’s James Una (8.1). — Olmin Leyba