JUNE Mar Fajardo nailing the game-winning basket at the buzzer in San Miguel's 113-112 conquest of Rain or Shine capped what had been a memorable evening for the PBA's only eighth-time Most Valuable Player.
Just before he came through with his heroic play, the 6-foot-10 Fajardo earlier climbed a notch higher in the league's career all-time rebounding list and made it to the Top 10 in the all-time career free throws made.
The 34-year-old Fajardo crashed the boards for 21 rebounds against the Elasto Painters to move past former MVP Philip Cezar in the career all-time list.
Fajardo now has total of 5,846 for seventh place, dislodging Cezar who finished his 17-year career with 5,834. The Cebuano native did it in only his 10th season in the league.
The University of Cebu product also knocked down 5-of-8 from the foul line, enabling him to tie another former San Miguel stalwart Danny Seigle at 10th spot for the all-time free throws made with 2,096 totals.
Sponsored content: The milestones came on the same night Fajardo drained a mid-range jumper right at the buzzer to give San Miguel a dramatic victory over the previously undefeated Rain or Shine team.
Fajardo finished with 27 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter where the Beermen lost a 12-point lead and needed to overcome the hot shooting hands of Rain or Shine rookie Felix Lemetti to break out of a two-game slump.
The San Miguel big man will now attempt to get past former teammate Arwind Santos, who occupies the no. 6 spot with 5.978 rebounds in 16 seasons.
The Top 5 in the all-time career rebounding list as per league chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III are four-time MVP Ramon Fernandez with 8,652 (20 seasons), two-time MVP Abet Guidaben with 8,570 (21 seasons), Jerry Codinera with 7,034 (17 seasons), Asi Taulava with 6,410 (24 seasons), and four-time MVP Alvin Patrimonio with 6,152 (17 seasons).(RG)
