MANILA – San Miguel Beermen center June Mar Fajardo captured his seventh PBA Most Valuable Player trophy during the Season 47 Leo Awards on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Cebuano center bagged the individual citation for finishing with 40.2 statistical points behind averages of 17.7 points, 13.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game during the PBA Season 47.
Fajardo, the Best Player of the Conference winner during the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup, edged teammate Jaymar Perez, and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings’ Earl Scottie Thompson and Christian Standhardinger for the award.
Fajardo’s coronation marked one of the PBA’s most successful comebacks from a major injury. It could be recalled that Fajardo suffered a gruesome shin injury during practice back in 2020, and took him over a year to regain his old form.
The 6-foot-10 Gilas Pilipinas mainstay said his seventh PBA MVP trophy came as a surprise as he never expected to win the award again following his career-threatening knee injury four years ago.
“Noong na-injure ako, nabali ang tibia ko, nag-cross talaga sa isip ko na baka yun na ang end ng career ko. Kasi malala,” Fajardo said. “Thankful ako sa lahat ng nagtulong-tulong para makabalik ako sa game.”
Aside from his MVP award, Fajardo also made the Mythical First Team along with his fellow MVP candidates and Gin Kings’ Jamie Malonzo. The Cebuano center was also part of the All-Defensive Team with Standhardinger, Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots’ Jio Jalalon and Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome, and Clifford Hodge.
Converge FiberXers’ center Justin Arana, meanwhile, was named PBA Season 47 Rookie of the Year, while Maverick Ahanmisi, now with the Gin Kings, is the Most Improved Player winner.
Meanwhile, Hotshots’ Calvin Abueva, TNT Tropang Giga’s Mikey Williams and Calvin Oftana, free agent Robert Bolick, and NorthPort Batang Pier’s Arvin Tolentino comprise the Mythical Second Team.
NLEX Road Warriors guard Kevin Alas earned the Samboy Lim Sportmanship Award, making him the first PBA player to win the award in back-to-back seasons after Rain or Shine Elasto Painters’ Gabe Norwood in 2017 and 2018./PN
