June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer emerged as the leading contender for the Best Player of the Conference (BPC) after the elimination round of the season-opening PBA Philippine Cup.
The 6-foot-10 Fajardo who is now on his third season compiled 363 Statistical Points (SP) for an average of 41.2 in the 11 games he played in the single-round eliminations.
During the elims, he averaged a conference-best 18.6 points highlighted by a 36-point production in a 90-74 victory against expansion team Kia last Nov. 19, with 12.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.3 blocked shots.
Fajardo, 25, was the best player of last season’s Philippine Cup – the same season he captured his very first MVP.
In the ongoing Philippine Cup, Fajardo has helped SMB earn an outright semifinal berth after the Beermen finished tied with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters with identical 9-2 records.
Alaska’s do-it-all forward Calvin Abueva, Rookie of the Year two seasons back, is second with 38.5 SP. Abueva averages of 17.4 points, 13.0 boards, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals.
Last season’s Rookie of the Year Greg Slaughter, the 7-foot center of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, is at No. 3 with 35.0 SP with averages of 15.6 points, 13.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 block.