KUMAKATOK si San Miguel Beer behemoth June Mar Fajardo sa record-extending ninth Best Player of the Conference award makaraang pangunahan ang statistical race sa PBA Philippine Cup.
Si six-time MVP Fajardo ay may 43.2 average statistical points (SPs) sa elimination round laban kina SMB teammate CJ Perez (39.5) at Season 46 MVP Scottie Thompson of Barangay Ginebra (37.9).
Si Fajardo ay nagposte ng averages na 18.5 points, league-best 13.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1 steal at 1.6 blocks upang lumapit sa panibagong award, ang kanyang unang BPC magmula noong 2019 All-Filipino.
Nagtala naman si Perez, naging all-around player para sa star-studded SMB, ng average na 17.5 markers, 7.6 boards, 5.9 dimes at 2.5 steals para pumangalawa sa karera para sa top conference plum.
Galing sa kanyang Governors’ Cup BPC at season MVP accolades, si Thompson ay pumapangatlo na may averages na 15.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists at 1.3 steals.
Sa likod ng tatlo ay sina Gin Kings star Japeth Aguilar (16.7 ppg, 8.4 rpg at league-leading 2.5 bpg) sa No. 4 na may 34.2 SPs at Magnolia guard Jio Jalalon (13.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, tournament-best 6.9 apg, at 2.5 spg) sa ika-5 puwesto na may 34.1 SPs.
Nasa ika-6 hanggang ika-10 puwesto sina Ginebra’s Christian Standhardinger (33.3), NorthPort duo Robert Bolick (32.63) at Jamie Malonzo (32.60), NLEX’s Calvin Oftana (32.1), at TNT’s RR Pogoy (31.2).
Nasa labas naman ng Top 10 sina Meralco’s Chris Newsome (31.1), SMB’s Jerico Cruz (30.6), Magnolia’s Ian Sangalang (30.5), Phoenix’s Jason Perkins (29.2) at Meralco’s Aaron Black (29.1).
Nasa ika-20 puwesto si Blackwater neophyte Ato Ular, na isang rebelasyon sa torneo at isa sa mga susi sa pagiging quarterfinal team ng Bossing, na may 27.2 SPs – nangunguna sa Season 47 freshman class.
Si second-round pick Ular ay may average na 14.1 points at 8.1 rebounds upang daigin sina Converge’s Justine Arana (22.1) at Jeo Ambohot (19.10), NorthPort’s JM Calma (19.09) at Phoenix’s Tyler Tio (18.2).
