June Mar Fajardo leads BPC race

With his dominant showing in this 2017 PBA Governor’s Cup that saw him post double-doubles with ease, there is no doubt that San Miguel Beermen star June Mar Fajardo is leading the race for Best Player of the Conference.

The 6-foot-10 center, who won the 2015 Governor’s Cup BPC award, posted norms of 18.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 2.0 blocks during the recently-concluded elimination round en route to 37.9 statistical points.

With this development, the reigning three-time Most Valuable Player is on pace to win his sixth BPC plum, an all-time league record. For now, Fajardo is tied with San Miguel legend Danny Ildefonso with five BPC awards.

Behind the 27-year-old comes Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome (33.27); Barangay Ginebra’s Greg Slaughter (33.1); another Beerman Arwind Santos (32.27); and reigning Governor’s Cup BPC Jayson Castro of TNT Katropa (32.2).

Rounding out the Top 10 are Alex Cabagnot (30.27); Globalport Batang Pier’s Stanley Pringle (29.44); Alaska Aces star Calvin Abueva (29.00); Meralco’s Baser Amer (28.90); and NLEX Road Warriors’ Kevin Alas (28.72).

The Fil-American Pringle leads all players in scoring with 19 per game. Abueva emerged as the leader in rebounds with 10.63, while SMB’s Chris Ross, who is ranked 23 in the BPC race, led in assists with 6.45 and in steals with 2.82.

The top five players after the semifinals will be named as the official BPC nominees.