June Mar Fajardo was crowned as the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup’s Best Player on Sunday.
It was his ninth BPC plum in the 10 years he has spent in the big league.
However, it was just his first top player award since the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup.
It can be recalled that the six-time Most Valuable Player shattered his right tibia prior to the start of the 45th season of the league.
His road to recovery has been well-documented. And this included losing his beloved mother during the process.
During the last two conferences, the 6-foot-10 Cebuano worked his way back. And just like the fans, the entire league watched on.
In the 2021 Philippine Cup, he normed 13.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks, leading San Miguel to the semifinals.
In the next conference, he posted numbers of 14.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks but the Beermen were eliminated in the quarters.
It proved that San Miguel will go where Fajardo takes them.
That is why when Fajardo hoisted the BPC plaque with his teammates and in front of 10,569 fans, even his rivals were happy for him.
“Hindi naman siguro kasi obvious naman na si June Mar yung BPC,” quipped Jayson Castro after TNT’s Game Four win. “Sobrang happy ako sa kanya kasi from injury, recovery niya, and then nabalik niya yung dati niyang laro.
“Sobrang masaya ako na makita siya nagpeperform ng ganun.”
Even TNT assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga chimed in.
“I second the motion,” the cheeky coach said.
Definitely, everyone was glad to see Fajardo regain his throne after such a long time in exile.
—
The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
