Before the start of Game 4 on Wednesday night, June Mar Fajardo was awarded his 10th Best Player of the Conference (BPC) accolade, adding yet another feather to the cap of the seven-time PBA MVP.
Standing at 6’10”, Fajardo will draw inspiration from this achievement as he and the San Miguel Beermen face off against the Meralco Bolts in the best-of-seven finals of the 48th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup.
This latest honor marks Fajardo’s eighth all-Filipino BPC award. He clinched the title by outperforming NLEX star Robert Bolick and Terrafirma rookie Stephen Holt, who were strong contenders and favorites for Rookie of the Year honors at the season’s end.
Bolick and Holt led the statistical points (SPs) race heading into the playoffs with 44.5 and 41.5 SPs, respectively. However, as the semifinals progressed, Fajardo surged ahead with 43.12 SPs, thanks to his impressive averages of 17.3 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game.
Fajardo’s performance was instrumental in guiding San Miguel Beermen to a commanding 4-0 sweep of Rain or Shine in the semifinals, significantly boosting his chances of securing the BPC award.