FAJARDO NAMED BPC
In only his second year in the league, June Mar Fajardo has now accomplished what his former mentor Danny Ildefonso only dreamed about before.
The 6-foot-10 center of the Petron Blaze Boosters has been hailed as the 2014 PBA Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference Friday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, winning the award in an overwhelming fashion.
Fajardo bested his Petron Blaze teammate and reigning league MVP Arwind Santos, Barangay Ginebra twin towers Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter, and GlobalPort forward Jay Washington, as the Pinamungahan, Cebu native garnered the top votes in the statistical points, media votes, players votes, and votes from the PBA, becoming the first-ever from that province to win BPC honors.
“Malaking achievement to para sa kin. Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga taong bumoto sa kin, sa mga co-players ko, sa media, at sa mga fans na nagpe-pray para makuha ko yung award na to,” Fajardo said.
The 24-year-old ran away with 1,268 votes, powered by 436 SPs (equivalent statistical points), 565 from the media, 117 from the players, and 150 from the PBA.
“Nagpapasalamat din ako kay God kasi binibigyan nya ako ng maraming blessings,” he said.
“Nagpapasalamat din ako sa management na sumosuporta sa team, sa coaching staff na binibigyan ako ng oras at nagtitiwala talaga sila sa akin, at sa mga teammates ko. Tinutulungan nila ko para maka-score ako at sila ang nagke-create ng shots para sa akin,” last year’s No. 1 overall draft pick added.
Fajardo will add the BPC hardware to his collection of accolades, being a member of the Mythical Second Team last year and his three Most Valuable Player awards with University of Cebu Webmasters in CESAFI.
“Medyo nabawasan nito yung sakit ng pagkatalo namin, pero mas maganda kung nakapasok kami ng Finals,” Fajardo said.
“Ako naman, naglalaro ako para matulungan ko ang team. Pinaka-goal ko talaga at pinaka-goal ng team ang makakuha ng championship. Yung mga awards, reward lang yun sa paglalaro mo ng maayos. First talaga dun sa mga goals ko ang championship.”
Santos was a distant second with 727 votes, while Aguilar and Slaughter were tied with 531 votes each.
Fajardo is the seventh player to win PBA BPC honors in a Petron Blaze or San Miguel Beer uniform after Santos, Washington, Danny Ildefonso, Danny Seigle, Nelson Asaytono, Allan Caidic.
The Boosters’ top big man also is the first-ever player to win a BPC award right after losing in the Rookie of the Year award the previous season to Alaska’s Calvin Abueva. (RL/FM)
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