JUNE Mar Fajardo stretched his own PBA record by bagging a seventh Most Valuable Player plum on Sunday during the Annual Leo Awards at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The 6-foot-10 San Miguel star bested the Barangay Ginebra duo of Christian Standhardinger and Scottie Thompson for the highest individual award of Season 47.
Fajardo won the MVP trophy in runaway fashion, regaining the same award he won a record sixth straight from 2014 to 2019 until a fractured tibia he suffered early in 2020 prior to the onset of the pandemic ended one of the most amazing personal streaks in PBA history.
The 33-year-old Cebuano tallied a total of 2,248 points, topping the stats department (1244) and the votes among media (852), while placing second in the players' votes (152).
"Hindi ko ini-expect na makakabalik pa, na makaka-compete pa ako sa ganitong level after ng injury ko," said Fajardo. "Major talaga yung injury ko, pero nagawan pa rin ng paraan (para makabalik ako)."
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Standhardinger placed second with 1,559 points by finishing second in the media votes (411), while Thompson, the man who ascended the MVP throne as Fajardo recovers from his injury, was a close third with 1539 points after finishing second in the stats (1099) and was the leading vote getter among the players (166).
CJ Perez came fourth in the race with 1,177 points.
Fajardo also dedicated his record award to his late mother Marites, who died two years ago.
"How I wish nandito yung parents ko, mama ko especially," said a teary-eyed Fajardo. "Sa nanay ko, masaya siya ngayon, masaya siya kasama sila lolo. Andiyan sila ngayon, tinitingnan ako, ginagabayan ako. Para sa kanila ito kung ano yung na-achieve ko."
Fajardo also recalled not allowing his parents to come to Manila during the time he was injured, knowing the situation would only add to their stress and worries.
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Unfortunately, he would never see his mother again.
"Doon ako nagsisisi, dapat pala pinapunta ko yung mama ko dito sa Manila nung time na injured ako. Kasi di ko na nakita yung mama ko. Yun ang isa sa mga regrets ko, hindi ko naman expect na ganun ang mangyayari," he recalled.
Despite his personal success, Fajardo vows to keep improving his game.
"Gagawin ko pang i-push yung sarili ko na mag-improve pa," he said.
Fajardo is just one of nine multiple MVP winners in PBA annals along with four-time winners Ramon Fernandez and Alvin Patrimonio, William 'Bogs' Adornado, Abet Guidaben, Danny Ildefonso, Willie Miller, Benjie Paras, and James Yap. (RG)
