PBA: Is June Mar Fajardo the GOAT? Kraken says he's still far from it

Longtime San Miguel bruiser June Mar Fajardo captured his eighth PBA MVP award on Sunday, sparking yet another conversation on who should be considered as the league's G.O.A.T.

The 6-foot-10 giant downplayed the talks, saying he is far from being the 'Greatest Of All Time'. 

One factor Fajardo highlighted was the number of championships. Former San Miguel icon Ramon Fernandez bagged a total of 19 titles in his entire PBA career, while Fajardo, for his part, already has ten championships across his name. 

But for him, being included in the G.O.A.T. debate is already an achievement in itself. 

"Siyempre masaya ako na mapabilang doon [sa GOAT conversation] pero sa tingin ko malayo pa ako do’n," Fajardo said. 

"Sobrang daming deserving na tawaging GOAT ng PBA. Si Ramon Fernandez, ang dami niyang championships, 19 ata, ako nakailan pa lang ako. Sobrang layo ko pa sa kaniya. Masaya na ako na mapabilang doon. Marami pa akong hahabulin."

This makes Fajardo even hungrier to win more awards and championships, saying he treats every title as his first so as to remain eager still. 

"Sa isip ko talaga, wala pa akong napanalunang awards, hindi pa ako nanalo ng MVP, Mythical, lahat ng achievements ko," he added.

"‘Yung mga awards ko chine-cherish ko pero never umakyat sa isip ko kaya every conference, ang mindset ko, gusto ko manalo ng first championship ko."

While individual honors are not his priority, the 34-year-old Fajardo said those will serve as something he will look back to once he leaves the game.

"Kung may darating pa na awards, tatanggapin ko kasi hindi naman tayo habambuhay maglalaro so hangga’t kaya nating maglaro, collect natin ‘to," Fajardo said. 

"‘Pag natapos na ‘yung career ko, may babalikan ako."

—JKC, GMA Integrated News