4-way race for the coveted most valuable player plum

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

PRIOR to the opening of the new season of the Philippine Basketball Association on March 8, the league will complete some unfinished business from last season with the awarding of the top individual awards, including the coveted most valuable player award.

Happening before the formal kickoff of Season 45 of the PBA, the Annual Leo Awards take place to honor players who stood out with their performance on the court in various categories.

Bannering the awarding ceremonies is that for league MVP, which is now down to a race of four among San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo, Northport’s Christian Standhardinger, TNT’s Jayson Castro and Columbian’s CJ Perez as per the list released by the PBA.

Mr. Fajardo is gunning for a sixth straight league MVP award and put himself in solid position to do so by helping the Beermen to the titles in the Philippine Cup and the Commissioner’s Cup, and winning the best player of the conference award in the former.

San Miguel missed out on the opportunity to win a rare PBA grand slam after being eliminated in the quarterfinals of the season-ending Governors’ Cup by eventual champion Barangay Ginebra.

It was an ouster that stung for the team, it being the second time it was deprived of such chance following that of 2017.

Mr. Fajardo said it was a motivation for them heading into the new PBA season.

Unfortunately, the “Kraken” is set to miss considerable time on the sidelines in the about-to-start season after injuring his leg in practice and undergoing surgery.

Mr. Standhardinger started last year with San Miguel before being traded to Northport midway in the Governors’ Cup.

The Filipino-German did not waste time showing his true value with the Batang Pier, helping them to a spirited late charge in the tournament that saw them make their way to the semifinals when many thought they would not even make it to the playoffs.

For his efforts on both ends of the court, Mr. Standhardinger was awarded the BPC award in the tournament.

Veteran Castro, meanwhile, was steady throughout last year, punctuated by another BPC award in the Commissioner’s Cup where the KaTropa played in the finals before losing to San Miguel, 4-2.

Mr. Perez, for his part, had one of the best rookie seasons in league history, leading the league in scoring throughout with an average of 20.8 points, making the Dyip more competitive.

The former National Collegiate Athletic Association MVP said he hopes that the great rookie season he had will continue in the coming years as he builds his career in the local pro league.

“The work continues for me. The goal in the coming season is not only to get better but also make my teammates better and the team more competitive and make it to the playoffs,” said Mr. Perez during Media Day for the new season on Thursday.

OTHER AWARDEES
Apart from the short list of MVP candidates, the league also released the names of those who qualified for the mythical selections, rookie of the year award, all-defensive teams and most improved player award.

Those in the running for mythical first and second team selections — a list 12 backcourt and eight frontline players — are Messrs. Castro and Perez, Robert Bolick (Northport), Alex Cabagnot and Chris Ross (San Miguel), Paul Lee (Magnolia), Rashawn McCarthy (Columbian), Chris Newsome (Meralco), Roger Pogoy (TNT), Stanley Pringle and Scottie Thompson (Barangay Ginebra) and Matthew Wright (Phoenix).

Frontliners are Messrs. Fajardo and Standhardinger, Japeth Aguilar (Barangay Ginebra), Troy Rosario (TNT), Ian Sangalang (Magnolia), Sean Anthony (Northport), Mo Tautuaa (San Miguel) and Jeron Teng (Alaska).

In the running for rookie of the year are Messrs. Perez and Bolick, Javee Mocon (Rain or Shine), Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. (TNT) and Abu Tratter (Alaska).

For the defensive teams are Mark Barroca, Rome Dela Rosa, Rafi Reavis and Jio Jalalon (Magnolia), Messrs. Ross, Thompson, Fajardo, Aguilar, Sangalang, Rosario, Standhardinger and Newsome, Jericho Cruz (NLEX), Mr. Anthony and Paolo Taha (Northport), JP Erram (TNT), Raymond Almazan (Meralco), Gabe Norwood (Rain or Shine) and LA Tenorio (Barangay Ginebra).

Most improved player, meanwhile, is a battle among by Messrs. Tautuaa and Wright, Jackson Corpuz (Magnolia), Bong Galanza and Philip Paniamogan (NLEX), Rey Nambatac (Rain or Shine) and Don Trollano (Blackwater).