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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider June Mar Fajardo primed for record-breaking ninth MVP award

June Mar Fajardo primed for record-breaking ninth MVP award

Published Oct 4, 2025 12:31 pm

At A Glance

  • June Mar Fajardo is once again primed for another Most Valuable Player award as the PBA honors the best of the best from the Season 49 with its Leo Awards at the Novotel Hotel just before the 50th Season opening on Sunday, Oct. 5.
June Mar Fajardo is once again primed for another Most Valuable Player award as the PBA honors the best of the best from the Season 49 with its Leo Awards at the Novotel Hotel just before the 50th Season opening on Sunday, Oct. 5.
The 6-foot-10 San Miguel center emerged as the frontrunner once more to the league's highest individual honor after winning the Best Player of the Conference plums in the Governors' Cup and the Philippine Cup.
Crowding Fajardo in the MVP race are former NorthPort star Arvin Tolentino and NLEX super scorer Robert Bolick.
While the two had strong campaigns -- with Tolentino winning the Commissioner's Cup BPC award and Bolick consistently contending for top honors across all three conferences -- their achievements this conference pale in comparison to the success of Fajardo.
Tolentino led NorthPort to a semifinals appearance in the mid-season conference, while Bolick’s NLEX squad failed to advance past the quarterfinals.
Fajardo, on the other hand, powered SMB to a Philippine Cup championship, despite the team missing the playoffs in the Commissioner's Cup. Statistically, Fajardo also stands head and shoulders above the rest.
The Cebuano giant posted 42.1 Statistical Points in Season 48 -- well ahead of Bolick’s 36.7 SPs and Tolentino’s 35.3 SPs.
As MVP contenders, the trio also headline the list of Mythical Team nominees, which includes CJ Perez, RJ Abarrientos, Sedrick Barefield, Chris Newsome, Adrian Nocum, Rey Nambatac, Joshua Munzon, RR Pogoy, Schonny Winston, Alec Stockton, and Scottie Thompson among the guards.
J
oining Fajardo and Tolentino in the forwards and centers category are Calvin Oftana, Japeth Aguilar, Justin Arana, Jason Perkins, and Zav Lucero.
The Rookie of the Year plum, meanwhile, is being contested by Abarrientos, Barefield, Caelan Tiongson, Kai Ballungay, and CJ Cansino.
Also set to be awarded during The Leos are the All-Defensive Team selections and the Sportsmanship Award.
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