JUNE Mar Fajardo was named part of the top Asian athletes for the 21st century by a leading worldwide cable sports channel.
ESPN included the seven-time PBA MVP in its top 25 list of athletes in all of Asia for the millennium.
The 6-foot-10 center of San Miguel Beer made the cut at no. 25 of the list topped no less by fellow Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao.
His league record of seven MVP was among the key accomplishments of the 34-year-old Cebuano cited by ESPN, apart from his 10-time championship with the Beermen, four-time Finals MVP, 10-time Best Player of the Conference, nine-time All-Star, eight-time Mythical Five member, Defensive Player of the Year, and gold medalist in the 2023 Asian Games.
Known as 'The Kraken,' Fajardo has won seven MVP awards, the most in league history, and has led the San Miguel Beermen to 10 PBA championships," ESPN said of the University of Cebu product.
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"He has also suited up for the national team since the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships and has continued to be the best big man for Gilas Pilipinas - including the latest Olympic Qualifying Tournament," it added. "Fajardo's consistent excellence and influence on Philippine basketball underscore his significant impact on the sport that Filipinos love."
Fajardo and Pacquiao were actually two of three Filipinos in the Top 25 list together with the country's first ever Olympic gold medalist in weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz.
But Fajardo and Hall of Famer Yao Ming were the only basketball players who made it to the ESPN selection.
Yao, the 7-foot-6 Chinese cage legend selected no. 1 overall pick by the Houston Rockets in the 2002 NBA draft, was listed at no. 2 behind Pacquiao.
Other notable athletes honored were baseball players Ichiro Suzuki and Shohei Ohtani, football's Son Heung-Min, Park Ji-Sung, tennis stars Naomi Osaka and Li Na, swimmers Sun Yang and Joseph Schooling, golfer Inbee Park, badminton players Lin Dan and Taufik Hidayat, among others.(RG)
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