A sidelight of the Alaska – San Miguel Beer Philippine Cup Finals is the brewing race for Best Player of the Conference honors.
The top two contenders in the BPC derby – SMB’s June Mar Fajardo and Alaska’s Calvin Abueva – are expected to lead their squads in the best-of-seven championship series but both appear more focused on the bigger task on hand.
“Di ko na iniisip yung award. Ibang level na yung laro ngayon dito sa Finals,” Abueva said.
“Third year na namin, tapos first Philippine Cup, yun talaga ang gusto ng lahat na makuha eh. Magkatapat pa kami ngayon kaya masaya talaga,” the guy everyone calls ‘TheBeast’ said.
Though Abueva has yet to be crowned season MVP, the third-year pro banger is one up over the Beermen’s gentle giant, having already tasted how sweet a PBA championship is when Alaska won the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup in his rookie year.
“Ako, nakauna na ako. May naipanalo na ako sa Finals. Ang gagawin ko, protect my team na lang and provide energy for the squad,” Abueva added.
Fajardo, meanwhile, has been vocal about his desire to win his first PBA title, saying, “Sana makuha ko na.”
The soft-spoken Kraken summed up his mentality for the Finals, saying, “Sa kanya na ang BPC, basta sa akin na ang championship.”
Big words from the big guy. (RL)
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