Another PBA Most Valuable Player plum is looming for San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo.
The greatest can become even greater.
June Mar Fajardo can bolster his case as the Philippine basketball's G.O.A.T with an unprecedented eighth PBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, as the league revealed the shortlist of candidates for the Season 48 Leo Awards set on Sunday, August 18.
Just before the PBA opened its 49th season, the Asia's pioneer basketball league will recognize the best performers last season. And as expected, the Kraken is at the forefront.
The San Miguel Beermen’s gentle giant is joined by teammate CJ Perez and now-Terrafirma Dyip member Christian Standhardinger in a three-way MVP race.
Fajardo has tallied 42.1 statistical points, while Standhardinger and Perez are a good four points behind.
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Meanwhile, new Barangay Ginebra player Stephen Holt is the heavy favorite to cop the Rookie of the Year award. He tallies 34.1 statistical points, a wide margin of ten points over NorthPort Batang Pier's Cade Flores and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters’ Adrian Nocum.
Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters’ Kenneth Tuffin h (21.5 SPs) and Blackwater Bossing's Christian David (17.8 SPs) round up the finalists.
A first-time Most Improved Player winner will also be crowned as nine hoopers vie for the award led by TNT Tropang Giga's Calvin Oftana, Terrafirma’s Joshua Munzon, and recently-crowned champion Meralco Bolts' Bong Quinto.
Converge FiberXers’ youngsters Justin Arana and point guard Alec Stockton are also in the mix alongside Rain or Shine’s own young studs in Andrei Caracut and Jhonard Clarito, Barangay Ginebra’s Isaac Go, and Javi Gómez de Liaño, who last played in Terrafirma before taking his act to overseas.
Meanwhile, 20 players– eight guards and 12 wingmen and big men– are in contention for the league’s Mythical Team selection.
Among the backcourt candidates are reigning Philippine Cup Finals MVP Chris Newsome of Meralco; Scottie Thompson, Maverick AhanmisI, and Holt of Barangay Ginebra; veterans Mark Barroca and Jayson Castro of Magnolia and TNT respectively; 2021 PBA Most Improved Player Juami Tiongson of Terrafirma; and Perez.
Fajardo, Standhardinger, Arana, Oftana, Gómez de Liaño are joined by seasoned veterans Beau Belga, Ian Sangalang, Cliff Hodge, Kelly Williams with Leonard Santillan, Arvin Tolentino, and Jason Perkins.
Furthermore, 30 players made the final list for the All-Defensive Team while the Sportsmanship award will be decided among Phoenix's JJ Alejandro, Meralco’s Brandon Bates, Paul Zamar, and Holt.