By REYNALD MAGALLON
The exciting race for the coveted Most Valuable Player award is now reduced to two players – San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo and Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson.
But before the Season 47 MVP winner will be known during the Leo Awards on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, both Fajardo and Thompson already expressed their gratefulness, saying just to be recognized and considered for the highest individual award was already an honor.
As things stand now, Fajardo appears to have the slight edge for the award with 40.2 statistical points built on averages of 17.7 points, 13.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.3 blocks last season.
More than that, the 6-foot-10 Fajardo helped power San Miguel to a Philippine Cup title after also winning the Best Player of the Conference.
“Thankful ako na nasa listahan ako ng MVP race. Di ko naman ineexpect yun kasi nanggaling ako ng injury ngayon nasali uli ako sa MVP candidates,” said the Cebuano gentle giant who already has six MVP titles tucked under his belt.
Thompson was third in the stats race with 35.5 SPs but is also making a case for a possible back-to-back award after winning the BPC plum in the Commissioner’s Cup along with the title after a thrilling best-of-seven affair against Bay Area Dragons.
Also in the conversation is Christian Standhardinger who was the BPC of the Governors’ Cup and fourth in the stats race and CJ Perez who didn’t win any BPC award but contended for it in all of the three conferences while finishing second to the stats race.
Thompson, for his part, knew that it would be hard to win a second-consecutive MVP plum with Fajardo healthy and back to his old, dominant form.
“Unang una masarap sa pakiramdam na makuha kung sakaling mag back-to-back but like I said nung nag MVP ako kasi di healthy si June Mar eh pero kapag nandyan si june Mar healthy talagang mahirap makipag sabayan sa award na MVP,” said Thompson.
“Sa akin lang malaking bagay sa akin na mapasama ulit sa pagpipilian yun na yung pinka best form nun looking forward na ako sa paparating na season,” added the reigning MVP.
