Rain or Shine clinches fifth win over Blackwater Bossing
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Fajardo wins 8th season MVP title
June Mar Fajardo bagged another trophy to his collection as he was named Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Most Valuable Player for the eight time.
The MVP plum was given on Sunday, August 18 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum during the Leo Awards before the opening ceremony of the PBA’s 49th Season.
Fajardo defeated his teammate CJ Perez and now Terrafirma’s Christian Standhardinger to be called the unprecedented eight-time MVP.
The previous record that Ramon Fernandez and Alvin Patrimonio held for a long time was four. But when JMF broke the record and made it five, he continually improved to get one after another.
Photo Courtesy: Rio Deluvio
In his speech, Fajardo jokingly said that “Sana next year uli (Hopefully next year again)” drawing laughter from the crowd in the venue.
Fajardo won the statistics, media votes, and player votes by wide margin to become the overwhelming winner of the award.
JMF also led the PBA 49th Season Mythical First Team, together with his fellow MVP candidates, CJ Perez and Christian Standhardinger, joined by Arvin Tolentino of NorthPort and Chris Newsome of Meralco to complete the group.
The Second Mythical Team on the other hand was composed of Meralco’s Cliff Hodge, TNT’s Calvin Oftana, Phoenix’ Jason Perkins, Terrafirma’s Juami Tiongson and now Barangay Ginebra’s Stephen Holt.
Holt, the top overall pick of Terrafirma last season was named the Rookie of the Year.
“The Kraken” also led the All-Defensive Team where he was joined by Newsome, Hodge, Terrafirma’s Kenmark Carino and NorthPort’s Joshua Munzon.
Completing the Leo Awardees were Jhonard Clarito of Rain or Shine who bagged the Most Improved Player plum and Paul Zamar of NorthPort received the Sportsmanship award honors.
