Four-way deadlock for PBA MVP award

San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo, Talk N’ Text’s Jason Castro, NorthPort’s Christian and Columbian Dyip’s Jaymar Perez are the contenders of the PBA Season 44 MVP award. CNNPHILIPPINES PHOTO
San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo, Talk N’ Text’s Jason Castro, NorthPort’s Christian and Columbian Dyip’s Jaymar Perez are the contenders of the PBA Season 44 MVP award. CNNPHILIPPINES PHOTO

MANILA – The selection for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Most Valuable Player award for Season 44 is now down to the three Best Player of the Conference (BPC) awardees and a top PBA Rookie of the Year plum.

San Miguel Beermen center June Mar Fajardo is in line to stretching his reign as the MVP for the sixth straight year, but Talk N’ Text (TNT) Ka Tropa’s Jayson Castro NorthPort’s Christian Christian Standhardinger and Columbian Dyip’s Jaymar Perez are contesting him.

‘The Kraken,’ standing at six foot ten, bagged the Philippine Cup BPC award, Castro took the BPC honors in the midseason of the Commissioner’s Cup, Standhardinger earned his own BPC coronation in the Governors’ Cup, while rising Filipino basketball slugger Perez contended for the top player award in two conferences.

Statistics-wise, Fajardo and Perez were on the lead, as the San Miguel big man piled up a whooping average of 39.6 points and Perez coming at second with 33.47 per game.

Castro barely missed the top five with 31.5 per outing, while while Standhardinger came at 16th with 26.7. NorthPort’s Sean Anthony (33.46), Ginebra’s Stanley Pringle (31.8) and TNT’s RR Pogoy (31.7) finished third, fourth and fifth in the stats race.

Pringle’s teammate, Aguilar, (29.9) came at seventh, followed by Phoenix’s Matthew Wright (29.0), Magnolia’s Ian Sangalang (28.7) and SMB’s Moala Tautuaa (27.5) to round out the Magic 10.

In the race for the Mythical First Team and Second Team are players who are  in the top 25, namely Troy Rosario (TNT), Scottie Thompson (Ginebra), Alex Cabagnot (SMB), Robert Bolick (NorthPort), Rashawn McCarthy (Columbian), Jeron Teng (Alaska), Chris Ross (SMB), Paul Lee (Magnolia), LA Tenorio (Ginebra), Poy Erram (NLEX), Chris Banchero (Magnolia), Arwind Santos (SMB) and Greg Slaughter (Ginebra).

As MVP contender, Perez is the top favorite for the Rookie of the year award, but his closest rivals Robert Bolick, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters’ Javee Mocon and KaTropa’s Bobby Ray Parks Jr. are also checking in.

The Leo Awards, which also feature the awards for the Most Improved Player, the Sportsmanship Award and the All- Defensive Team, will be held at the start of PBA Season 45 on March 1./PN

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