June Mar Fajardo has no doubt that the PBA Press Corps Finals Most Valuable Player award landed in the hands of the most deserving.
The league’s only eight-time MVP couldn’t feel prouder to see Jericho Cruz earn the coveted honors bestowed by the men and women who cover the beat for playing a crucial role in regaining the Philippine Cup crown.
“Deserve niya ‘yun,” he said on the heels of their 107-96 conquest of TNT in Game 6 of the Season 49 All-Filipino wars at the Philsports Arena, Friday night.
Some fans were batting for Fajardo to win the plum, having built a solid case for it as well. The Cebuano star went near-perfect from the floor in the title clincher, going 11-of-12 from the field for 24 points to go with 12 rebounds.
He was also key in their third-quarter breakaway, producing 10 of his points behind a 5-for-5 clip to lead a 34-point explosion toward an 86-67 lead.
But Fajardo pointed out that it was Cruz who enabled the Beermen to swing momentum their way in this series, particularly in Game 4 last Sunday.
There, the 34-year-old submitted his best showing of the recent Finals with 23 points as he helped lead a strong fourth-quarter push in which the team produced 41 big points toward the 105-91 win — and the 3-1 lead.
San Miguel wasn’t able to complete the gentleman’s sweep in Game 5 after bowing to an 86-78 result, but he still produced a team-high 20 points.
And come Game 6, the 11-year pro stepped up when it mattered most, supplying 13 points, four rebounds, and six assists to lead the bench mob.
The polarizing winger finished the series with averages of 14.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, eventually nabbing his first Finals MVP plaque.
“Siya yung nag-spark ng runs namin nung game sa MoA– — siya nag-ano nun,” said Fajardo of Cruz, who now has a quartet of league titles in his resume.
“Deserve niya. Happy kami na nakuha niya ‘yung MVP.”
