Fajardo could be back after the Holidays.
Just weeks after winning his unprecedented seventh MVP plum, June Mar Fajardo has continued to assert his dominance in the PBA, flashing his MVP form from the get-go to lead the San Miguel Beermen in the season-opening tournament.
And, right at the halfway mark of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round, the SMB superstar emerged as the leader in the Best Player of the Conference race.
Fajardo sits on top with a superior 43.3 statistical points (SPs) built on a league-leading 11.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks. He has also normed 19.3 points, 3.0 assists, and 1.0 steals in what has been a terrific start for the big man.
Not far behind is Barangay Ginebra San Miguel center Christian Standhardinger and Fajardo's teammate, Cjay Perez, who tallied 42.8 and 40.3 SPs, respectively.
Rounding out the top five are Ginebra newbie Maverick Ahanmisi (37.2 SPs) and NorthPort Batang Pier’s Arvin Tolentino (35.5 SPs), who leads the locals in points with 22.8 markers per game.
Fajardo, though, is on the shelf, out for three to four weeks due to a metacarpal injury he suffered against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters last week. This means Standhardinger and company will have a golden opportunity to bridge the gap with Fajardo.
Meanwhile, Su Braimoh of Meralco Bolts leads all reinforcements in the Best Import derby.
Before going down with an Achilles injury, he averaged 32.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.2 steals to earn 55.0 SPs.
NorthPort Batang Pier’s Venty Jois came in second with 54.8 SPs on averages of 28.2 points, 15.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 2.0 blocks in six games.
Completing the top five are Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters’ Johnathan Williams (53.7 SPs), Magnolia Hotshots’ Tyler Bey (53.2 SPs), and TNT Tropang Giga’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (50.3).
Elsewhere, the Batang Pier’s Cade Flores leads all rookies with 29.0 SPs on averages of 11.2 points and 9.5 rebounds (tops among rookies).
No. 1 overall pick Stephen Holt of Terrafirma Dyip is at second with 25.2 SPs, norming 10.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.0 steals in six games.
(MDB)