MANILA – San Miguel Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo could be in line for his sixth straight Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Most Valuable Player (MVP) award during the annual PBA Leo Awards at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today.
The Cebuano center is part of the official list of the MVP candidates released by the PBA Commissioner’s Office for Season 44 along with Jaymar Perez of the Columbian Dyip, Jayson Castro of the Talk ‘N Text (TNT) KaTropa and Christian Standhardinger from the NorthPort Batang Pier.
If ever Fajardo would win the MVP trophy, his streak will remain at six. He is expected to miss a part, if not the entire duration of the 2020 PBA season after bowing to a knee injury during the offseason.
Aside from being an MVP candidate, Fajardo, along with Standhardinger lead the roster of centers/forwards vying for slots in the Mythical Selection. The others are Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings’ Japeth Aguilar, Batang Pier’s Sean Anthony, TNT’s Jeth Troy Rosario, Magnolia Hotshots’ Ian Sangalang, Beermen’s Moala Tautuaa and Alaska Aces’ Jeron Teng.
Casto and Perez, on the other hand,
banner the list of guards in the race for the Mythical First and Second teams.
Also included in the crack roster are Batang Pier’s Robert Bolick, Beermen’s
Alex Cabagnot and Chris Ross, Hotshots’ Paul Lee, Dyip’s Rashawn McCarthy,
Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome, KaTropa’s Roger Pogoy, Kings’ Stanley Pringle and
Scottie Thompson and finally, Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters’ Matthew Wright.
Perez and Bolick, meanwhile, lead the Rookie of the Year race versus Rain or
Shine Elasto Painters’ Javee Mocon, KaTropa’s Bobby Ray Parks and Aces’ Abu
Tratter.
Also taking the spotlight during the elaborate rites are the winners of the
Most Improved Player (MIP), the Sportsmanship award and the members of the
All-Defensive Team.
Having a breakout season and thus emerging as MIP candidates are Tautaa, Wright, Hotshots’ Jackson Corpuz, Road Warriors’ Pedrito Galanza and Philip Paniamogan, Painters’ Rey Nambatac and Blackwater Elite’s Celedonio Trollano.
Vying for the Samboy Lim Trophy for the sportsmanship citation are Fajardo, Nambatac, Rosario, Newsome, Bolts’ Baser Amer, Elite’s Mac Belo and Painters’ Gabe Norwood.
Energy guys in the running for a spot in the All-Defensive Team award are Hotshots’ Mark Barroca and Jiovani Jalalon, Road Warriors’ Jericho Cruz Newsome, Perez, Ross, Thompson, Batang Pier’s Paolo Taha and Kings’ LA Tenorio at the backcourt. Meanwhile, Aguilar, Bolts’ Raymond Almazan, Anthony, Hotshots’ Rome dela Rosa, KaTropa’s ohn Erram, Fajardo, Norwood, Hotshots’ Rafi Reavis, Rosario, Sangalang and Standhardinger will be the candidates of the frontcourt.
The Leo Awards will quickly be followed by the PBA Season 45’s opening ceremony. Its Sunday event will be highlighted by the opening game of the season between the top teams San Miguel Beermen and Magnolia Hotshots./PN
