June Mar Fajardo is on the prowl for a record-extending 12th PBA Best Player of the Conference award as he leads the race in the Season 49 Philippine Cup.
The face of the San Miguel franchise holds pole position through the end of the conference’s elimination round, with teammate CJ Perez, NLEX main man Robert Bolick, and budding star Zav Lucero of Magnolia in pursuit.
Fajardo logged 40.4 average statistical points (SPs) built on solid per-game averages of 17.5 points, a league-best 13.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists to make a strong case for the top individual plum of the season-ending tourney.
The 35-year-old center is gunning for his second BPC of the season after previously hoisting the trophy in the season-opening Governors’ Cup.
Perez, meanwhile, leads the chase pack with 38.5 SPs, pushing his bid with a tournament-best 23.4 markers to go with 4.9 boards, 4.3 dimes, and 1.8 steals.
Bolick, who posted averages of 18.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and a conference-best 7.2 assists, is at third with 37.6 SPs to his name.
He is followed closely by Lucero with his 37.3 SPs, fueled by impressive norms of 18.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks.
Before Phoenix bowed out, Jason Perkins, the All-Filipino meet’s second-best scorer with 23.2 markers, positioned himself at No. 5 with 35.5 SPs.
TNT’s Calvin Oftana (35.4 SPs), Converge’s twin towers Justin Arana (34.6) and Justine Baltazar (34.6), Barangay Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar (34.2), and Magnolia’s newest player William Navarro (27.3) rounded out the Top 10.
