THE fight for the PBA Season 47 MVP award is fast shaping up to be a frantic two-way race between June Mar Fajardo and Scottie Thompson.
The San Miguel big man and the Barangay Ginebra do-it-all guard emerged as the top two contenders for the league's highest individual award with the season entering its homestretch.
Based on statistics at the end of the Commissioner's Cup, the 33-year-old Fajardo kept the top spot with a total of 28.9 statistical points (SPs).
Fajardo led the race since the season-opening Philippine Cup, which San Miguel won by beating TNT in a grueling best-of-seven finals that went the full route. The 6-foot-10 Cebuano was named Finals MVP and emerged the Best Player of the Conference.
But hot on the heels of the six-time MVP is the 29-year-old Thompson, who jumped at no. 2 following Barangay Ginebra's successful title conquest of the mid-season conference that saw the Kings conquered guest team Bay Area Dragons in a seven-game championship series. The native of Davao City was also winner of the BPC award.
Sponsored content: Previously at no. 3, the high-leaping guard out of University of Perpetual Help dislodged San Miguel's CJ Perez at second spot by tallying 24.9 SPs.
Perez, who won his first championship last year with the Beermen, fell at third place, but remained in contention with a total SPs of 24.6.
Consistent contender Robert Bolick of NorthPort is also in the mix with 23.2 SPs to sit at no. 4, while another Barangay Ginebra player in sophomore Jamie Malonzo barged at no. 5 with 21.9 SPs after bagging his first title with the Kings.
Commissioner's Cup Finals MVP Christian Standhardinger also of Ginebra, placed at no. 6 with 21.1 SPs, followed by sophomore guard Mikey Williams of TNT with 20.6 SPs.
Japeth Aguilar is the fourth Ginebra player to make it in the Top 10 by placing eight with 20.4 SPs, before Don Trollano of NLEX and TNT's Roger Pogoy took the next two spots with 20.30 SPs and 20.28 SPs, respectively. (RG)
