(PBA image)
June Mar Fajardo is once again standing tallest in the race for the PBA Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference, emerging as the clear favorite heading into the Finals of the season-opening tournament.
The San Miguel Beermen cornerstone remains on top of the statistical points race with an average of 44.3 SPS, putting him on track to extend his own league record. Already the most decorated BPC winner in PBA history, Fajardo is aiming for a remarkable 13th overall award, including an unprecedented eighth trophy in the All-Filipino conference.
At 36, the Cebuano giant leads a strong but distant pack of contenders that includes Calvin Abueva of the NorthPort Batang Pier, Converge standouts Juan Gomez De Liano and Justine Baltazar, and Magnolia forward Zavier Lucero. Notably, Fajardo was the only one among the five nominees to reach the semifinals — and eventually the Finals — underscoring his impact on winning.
Facing TNT Tropang 5G in the championship series, Fajardo has continued to deliver at both ends of the floor. Through three games, he is averaging 19.0 points, a massive 20.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks, anchoring San Miguel’s 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven showdown.
The formal awarding of the Best Player of the Conference is scheduled before Game 4 of the Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.
Abueva finished second in the SPS standings with 41.2, powered by a conference-best 23.6 scoring average. However, his individual brilliance was not enough to lift the Batang Pier into the playoffs in their first conference in the league’s 50th season. The 37-year-old remains a two-time BPC winner, having claimed the honor during his stints with Alaska and Magnolia.
Rookie Juan Gomez De Liano made a strong case in his debut season, ranking third with 37.2 SPS and emerging as the only first-year player to seriously challenge for the award. He was joined closely by teammate Justine Baltazar, last season’s top overall pick, who matched him with the same SPS output.
Lucero rounded out the top five with 33.8 SPS, capping his campaign by leading the league in blocked shots at 2.0 per game.
As the Finals intensify, all signs point to Fajardo adding yet another milestone to a legacy that continues to define PBA greatness.