June Mar Fajardo believes that it will only be a matter of time before what many perceive as an unbreakable record he himself set gets surpassed.
The San Miguel star begs to differ from the consensus of fans and pundits alike that no one else would be able to surpass, or at least come close to, the feat he’s achieved — winning the PBA MVP award a record eight times, that is.
“Nakakataba ng puso pero feeling ko may magb-ebreak din ng record ko,” he said Saturday night moments after the Beermen’s 98-89 victory over NLEX to open their Season 49 Philippine Cup campaign at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
“Yung record naman mabe-break at mabe-break talaga yan e. Ang tanong kung kailan,” added the Cebuano star, who’s also an 11-time BPC winner.
Fajardo offered as much just days after PBA all-time great Atoy Co offered that no other player would be able to achieve what the 6-foot-10 center did in explaining his inclusion to the league’s 50 Greatest Players list.
“Wala na sigurong lalagpas pa sa ginawa [niya]. It will take many, many years para may lumabas na isang June Mar Fajardo na nagkaroon ng eight MVP [awards] sa PBA,” the ‘Fortune Cookie’ was quoted as saying.
Co was part of the 10-man selection committee for the 10 additional names to the ’40 Greatest’ as part of the league’s 50th anniversary celebration.
And the 1979 PBA MVP, together with the panel, decided that MVP winners like ‘Abai’ himself should be assured of a slot in the exclusive circle.
“In 13 years, he got eight MVPs. Sa pagpili, ‘yong MVP, customary na kasi. Pero kahit hindi customary, ipagpipilitan kong ipasok si June Mar,” Co said.
Fajardo then became just one of two active players to be named to the ’50 Greatest,’ which he said came as a surprise to him.
“Hindi ko nga ineexpect. I mean, sa ngayon, maaga pa. Naglalaro pa ako eh,” he said. “Pero ‘yun nga, thankful ako sa mga pumili sa akin.”
But he’s nonetheless filled with gratitude to be recognized this early for his body of work in the 13 years he’s been in the league thus far, which includes 10 PBA titles, four PBA Finals MVPs, and 10 Mythical Team citations, to name some.
“Masaya ako na napabilang ako roon sa 50 Greatest. Isang karangalan na mapabilang doon, ma-recognize na isa ka sa greatest sa PBA,” he said.
Still, it doesn’t mean that he’s going to rest on his laurels, as Fajardo chooses to keep the mentality that he’s been going with ever since he began.
“Sabi ko nga, yung mga awards ko, kung anuman yung achievements ko, hindi umaakyat sa [ulo] ko. Sa isip ko, wala pa ‘kong napanalunan, wala pa ‘kong napatunayan,” he said.
#WATCH: “ISANG KARANGALAN”
June Mar Fajardo humbled by his inclusion in the #PBA50 Greatest List, never expecting it “this early” in his career 🏀
📹 @justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times#PBA2025 pic.twitter.com/0oJJkbDPje
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 5, 2025
