June Mar Fajardo bags historic fifth MVP award

June Mar Fajardo of the San Miguel Beermen captured his fifth PBA MVP title, a historic first in Asia's oldest professional league.

The award was given Sunday afternoon at the Philippine Arena, prior to the league's opening of its 44th season.

Fajardo bested NorthPort's Stanley Pringle, making 2,436 overall points against Pringle's 2,031, according to the breakdown released by the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Pringle was ahead of Fajardo in terms of statistics, 1,107 against 1,032. However, statistics are only 40 percent of the computation for the MVP award. The players, members of the media, and the PBA Commissioner's Office make up the remaining percentage.

Fajardo led the media and Commissioner's office points with 777 and 389 points, respectively. Pringle, meanwhile, garnered 389 points from the media and 150 points from the PBA.

The NorthPort guard, however, got the higher number of points from the PBA players with 395 points against Fajardo's 327.

Fajardo is the first and only player in the league with five MVP awards.

Before this, he was tied with Ramon Fernandez and Alvin Patrimonio for the most number of PBA MVP titles with four.

For his family

Fajardo paid tribute to his family as he accepted his fifth MVP title. "Sa parents ko, sila 'yung dahilan kung bakit ako nagpursigi. Kapatid ko, sila yung pinaka-source ko ng inspiration," he said.

"Di man sila ganung kalaki," he added in jest, "Pero pinalaki nila ako."

Di man sila ganun kalaki, pero pinalaki nila ako ???? #PBALabanKungLaban pic.twitter.com/XL12zknzrc

— PBA (@pbaconnect) January 13, 2019

"Kahit mahirap lang kami dati, dinidisiplina nila kami, [binibigyan ng] magandang kondisyon kaya malaki ako ngayon. Dahil sa kanila, nandito ako ngayon," Fajardo said.

He also could not believe that he is now a five-time MVP, despite being teased before.

"Sinong mag-aakala na dati, pinagtatawanan lang, ngayon five-time MVP na?" Fajardo narrated.

"The Kraken" also credited San Miguel in capturing the historic feat.

"Sa totoo lang, pag nasa ibang team siguro ako, di ako alam kung makakapanalo ako ng MVP kasi malakas 'yung mga teammates ko. Lagi kaming nasa playoffs most of the conference. Thankful ako sa teammates ko, sa coaches ko, top management," he said.

Aside from the MVP award, Fajardo also made it to the PBA's first mythical team and all-defensive team. — Justin Kenneth Carandang/BM, GMA News