The Cebuano giant last won the coveted award in 2020.
Owing to a fracture on his right tibia, San Miguel Beermen superstar June Mar Fajardo made his way to center court on an electric trike to receive his sixth straight PBA MVP award back in early March of 2020.
Then the COVID-19 pandemic struck, shutting down business as well as the games in the PBA.
As the country gradually eased restrictions, the PBA also returned in a bubble setup. But in 2021, it was Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s Scottie Thompson who won the highest individual award.
Fajardo has a chance to reclaim the crown again this year.
This despite missing 6 of SMB’s 15 games in the recently-concluded Governors’ Cup because of an MCL injury he suffered in the EASL in Japan.
The Cebuano giant was also sidelined for over a month in the Commissioner’s Cup after undergoing a surgery on his throat. He returned to steer the Beermen to the semifinals, but fell at the hands of Bay Area Dragons.
In all, he played in 46 of 59 games in the 47th season of Asia’s premier league.
According an article posted on the PBA website, the 6-foot-10 behemoth “met the criteria to be a candidate” for the coveted award.
After all, Fajardo was named Best Player of the Conference after leading SMB in their Philippine Cup conquest. He also won the Finals MVP award after a thrilling best-of-seven finale against the Tropang Giga.
Also in the running for the MVP honors are Thompson and teammate Christian Standhardinger, winners of Commissioner’s Cup and Governors’ Cup BPC plums, respectively.
The MVP will be crowned in the Leo Awards, which will be held on the opening of the new season.
“Itutuloy natin ang bagong tradition na sabay ang Leo Awards sa opening ng susunod na season. Ito ay para sa fans. Mas masaya ang fans dito dahil halos lahat ay present sa set up na ito,” said PBA commissioner Willie Marcial in the same article.