June Mar Fajardo, the towering center of the San Miguel Beermen, is poised to make history once again as he dominates the race for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award at the halfway mark of the season. The 34-year-old basketball phenom is on track to potentially secure his record-breaking 8th MVP title, further solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest players in Philippine basketball history.
Fajardo’s impressive statistical performance has propelled him to the top of the MVP race, boasting an impressive 40.9 statistical points average. His stellar numbers include averaging 16.2 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, making him a formidable force on both ends of the court. His exceptional contributions have been instrumental in leading the San Miguel Beermen to success, culminating in their championship victory in the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup.
Christian Standhardinger of Barangay Ginebra emerges as Fajardo’s closest competitor in the MVP race, boasting an impressive statistical points average of 35.7. Standhardinger’s all-around game, highlighted by averaging 16.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game, has solidified his position as a top contender for the prestigious award.
Meanwhile, Fajardo’s teammate CJ Perez, recently crowned as the Best Player of the Conference, holds the third spot in the MVP race with a statistical points average of 35.4. Perez’s dynamic performance, characterized by averaging 16.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.3 steals per game, has been crucial to his team’s success.
Other notable contenders in the MVP race include Arvin Tolentino of NorthPort and Calvin Oftana of TNT, who occupy the fourth and fifth spots, respectively, with impressive statistical performances.
Despite his outstanding performance, Fajardo faced eligibility issues in the recent conference, rendering him ineligible to win the Best Player of the Conference award due to injury. Currently nursing a calf injury sustained during the Finals series against Magnolia, Fajardo remains a key figure in Gilas Pilipinas’ four-year program, although he is expected to miss the team’s first two games in the upcoming 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
