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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider June Mar Fajardo strives for greater heights

June Mar Fajardo strives for greater heights

Published Nov 4, 2024 06:40 am

At A Glance

  • There's no question why San Miguel's June Mar Fajardo is one of the most beloved cagers in the country's biggest pro league, PBA – a perfect epitome of a gentle giant.

There’s no question why San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo is one of the most beloved cagers in the country’s biggest pro league, PBA – a perfect epitome of a gentle giant.

PBA Images2 (2).jpg
San Miguel's June Mar Fajardo bags his historic 11th BPC plum. (PBA Images)

Known for his warmth and down-to-earth character which Filipino fans adore, Fajardo, 34, an 8-time MVP, always humbled himself in order to continue to strive and further develop his craft.

No doubt, he won his historic 11th Best Player of the Conference plum – the most by any player in PBA history and far cry from 5-time winners in Jayson Castro and Danny Ildefonso.

“Nasa isip ko lagi na wala pa akong napalanunan, kaya lagi kong pinu-push ‘yong sarili ko na magpursigi, never umakyat sa isip ko ‘yong mga awards ko,” Fajardo after receiving the individual award Sunday, Nov. 3, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Hanggang dito lang ‘yan [point to his heart], chine-cherish ko ‘yan pero never umakyat sa isip ko ‘yong mga napalanunan miski isa kaya ‘yon nag-drive sakin na magpursige,” he added.

And when Fajardo was asked if he anticipated the feat: he genuinely answered with a no.

“Hindi nga eh, kasi nasa Cebu nga ako, [pero] masaya ako na nakuha ko ‘tong award na ‘to. Blessing din ‘to,” said Fajardo.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat lalo na sa inyo [media], sa mga coaches ko, sa mga kapwa ko players,” he added.

But for the pride of Cebu, it’ll be sweeter if he took the award while playing in the finals.

“‘Yon naman talaga ang goal eh, makaabot sa finals at tyaka makakuha ng championship. Ito parang consolation,” Fajardo continued.

He also got a message to his friend and Gilas teammate Japeth Aguilar of Ginebra, who was his closest pursuer in the BPC race.

“Sakin nalang muna ‘yong BPC, sa kanya na ‘yong championship.”

The 6-foot-10 Gilas star claimed the BPC after amassing 989 points that includes stats points, media and players’ votes. He outshone the Gin Kings’ Aguilar (664) and Scottie Thompson (465), NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino (421), NLEX’s Robert Bolick (401) and his teammate CJ Perez (366) in the voting race.

Fajardo received the accolades alongside TNT’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who beat Gin Kings’ Justin Brownlee and the rest of the reinforcements for his back-to-back Best Import plum.

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