It’s also a heated race for the ROY award.
Will June Fajardo regain the throne? Or will Scottie Thompson continue his reign?
Those are just some of the questions posed ahead of the annual PBA Leo Awards on November 5.
According to an article posted by the PBA on its website, the San Miguel Beermen superstar leads the MVP race with 42.2 statistical points (SPs), while teammate Cjay Perez is at second with 36.1 SPs. Though Fajardo missed 15 games in the Governors' Cup owing to an MCL injury he suffered in the EASL in Japan, he met criteria to become an official MVP candidate.
Thompson and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel teammate Christian Standhardinger, though, are not far behind with 35.5 and 33.6, respectively.
Only Perez didn’t win a Best Player of the Conference award last season.
The six-time MVP steered the Beermen to the Philippine Cup championship and won the BPC plum in the process. Thompson also makes a case for a back-to-back MVP award after claiming the BPC award in the mid-season conference that saw the Gin Kings beat guest team Bay Area Dragons in a thrilling finale, while the Fil-German Standhardinger took home the same award in the Governors’ Cup.
Meanwhile, Blackwater Bossing's Ato Ular is in the running for the Rookie of the Year honors with 23.8 SPs. Converge FiberXers big man Justin Arana comes in second with 22.7.
Rounding out the top five candidates are Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser of NLEX Road Warriors (22.1), Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters gunner Tyler Tio (19.8), and Rain or Shine Elasto Painter Gian Mamuyac.
The awarding precedes the opener at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
(GM)