June Mar Fajardo clinches onto third MVP trophy

Besides eight BPC awards, this third Finals MVP trophy adds onto Fajardo’s record of five MVP trophies, five All-PBA Team selections, a Defensive Player of the Year award, and seven championships. (Photo: PBA/Facebook)

The PBA Press Corporation chose Fajardo as their Honda PBA Finals MVP as he broke the record for most rebounds in a finals game at 31 during Game Seven, adding a total of a crucial 17 points to the 72-71 victory. This meant that he surpassed 7-Up Marcelo Simbulan’s 29 rebounds set during the 1975 inaugural season. During the seven-game series as a whole, the gentle giant averaged 22.9 points, 19.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. 

Besides eight BPC awards, this third Finals MVP trophy adds onto Fajardo’s record of five MVP trophies, five All-PBA Team selections, a Defensive Player of the Year award, and seven championships.

After being crowned 2019 PBA Philippine Cup champions and rising from a 17-point deficit in the first half, Fajardo considers the series against Magnolia “really one of the hardest,” telling the media, “Everyone stepped up. We refused to give up. And we’re thankful to repeat as champions,” adding, “I always tell myself I have yet to win any award or championship, [because] that’s what keeps my desire burning. That’s what motivates me to improve my game.” As for his record-breaking performance, he elaborates, “I didn’t expect it. I was just focused on getting rebounds and helping the team seize the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win five straight championships. I thought we’re in a good position so we pushed ourselves and won it. Anyway, my main job is really to rebounding and I’m glad I was able to grab rebounds.”

Fajardo concluded, “I honestly don’t think about [the awards]. I always tell myself to cherish my awards but just keep them in my heart and not let them get to my head. I approach it as if I’ve never been a champion, I’ve never won an MVP, I’ve never won a BPC so I’ll be motivated to do my best.”