FAJARDO NANGUNGUNA SA MVP DERBY

BUMABANDERA si San Miguel Beer behemoth June Mar Fajardo sa karera para sa coveted Season 48 Most Valuable Player award matapos ang PBA Commissioner’s Cup na napagwagian niya at ng Beermen.

Ang seven-time MVP ay nagtala ng 40.9 average statistical points mula sa points (16.2), rebounds (league-best 12.0) at blocks (season-high 2.3) plus 2.5 assists at 1.1 steals upang manguna sa kalagitnaan ng 48th season.

Nasa likod ni Fajardo sina Ginebra’s Christian Standhardinger at CJ Perez, ang newly-minted Best Player of the Conference at Finals MVP teammate ni Fajardo sa SMB.

Si Standhardinger, may average na 16.5 markers, 9.9 boards at 5.0 assists, ay pumapangalawa na may 35.7 SPs habang pangatlo si Perez, nagposte ng 16.9-point, 6-rebound, 3.6-assist at  2.3-steal averages sa kanyang breakout conference, sa 35.4 SPs.

Si Arvin Tolentino ng NorthPort, ang nangungunang local scorer ng liga na may 22.4 points at nagtala ng  5.7 rebounds at 2.4 assists per outing, ay nasa No. 4 na may  35.1 SPs, kasunod si  Calvin Oftana ng TNT (21.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists per game) sa fifth na may 34.1. Sina Season 46 MVP Scottie Thompson ng Ginebra (31 SPs), Meralco’s Chris Newsome (28.5), Jio Jalalon ng runner-up Magnolia (28.4) at Ginebra duo Maverick Ahanmisi (27.60) at Jamie Malonzo (27.58) ang umookupa sa sixth hanggang 10th positions.

Nasa labas ng Top 10 sina Jason Perkins ng semifinalist Phoenix (27.5), Terrafirma’s Javi Gomez de Liano (27.1), Magnolia’s Mark Barroca (26.8), Terrafirma’s Juami Tiongson (26.6) at Cliff Hodge ng Meralco (24.8).

Samantala, ang  top pick ng Dyip na si Stephen Holt ang nangunguna sa Rookie of the Year derby na may 24 SPs habang No. 20 siya sa MVP contest.

CLYDE MARIANO