June Mar Fajardo leads the race for a record-extending ninth PBA MVP award

With a record eight Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophies already to his name, San Miguel Beermen legend June Mar Fajardo is once again on the cusp of rewriting the PBA history books.

The 6-foot-10 big man, widely regarded as the greatest player in Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) history, has emerged as the frontrunner for the Season 49 MVP award, following yet another dominant campaign with the perennial powerhouse San Miguel squad.

Now 35 years old, Fajardo continues to defy expectations and Father Time. He led the statistical points (SPs) race with 42.1 SPs, bolstered by league-leading averages in rebounding (16.1 rebounds per game) and a top-three finish in scoring with 19.2 points per game.

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His consistent production was instrumental in keeping San Miguel in contention throughout the season, further cementing his legacy as the league’s most dominant force over the last decade.

Should he secure the MVP once again, it would be Fajardo’s record-extending ninth — further distancing himself from the rest of the all-time greats in the league’s decorated history.

While Fajardo leads the statistical race, he faces stiff competition from two rising stars who had remarkable individual seasons of their own.

NLEX Road Warriors guard Robert Bolick comes in second with 36.7 SPs, thanks to his stellar all-around performance. The scoring-savvy playmaker led the league in assists with 7.6 per game and ranked second in scoring at 20.6 points per outing, showing just how vital he was to the Road Warriors’ offense.

Close behind is NorthPort Batang Pier’s rising forward Arvin Tolentino, who collected 35.3 SPs. Tolentino had a career-defining season, highlighted by his Best Player of the Conference (BPC) award in the Commissioner’s Cup. The sweet-shooting forward has rapidly developed into a two-way star and could very well pull off an MVP upset if he gains enough votes from the media and players.

The PBA MVP is determined through a combination of statistical points (45%), media votes (30%), and player votes (25%), which means that while Fajardo holds the advantage statistically, the final result still depends heavily on perception and peer recognition.

This opens the door for Bolick or Tolentino to challenge the Beermen stalwart — especially if they made a strong impression among media and fellow players.

New season, new look for some of the Beermen 🔥

June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez and Jeron Teng were spotted sporting new hairstyles in the PBA Media Day on Thursday! #PBA50 pic.twitter.com/Fh1HrZVET5

— SPIN.ph (@spinph) September 25, 2025

The Rookie of the Year race is also heating up, with Blackwater Bossing guard Sedrick Barefield emerging as the top candidate. Barefield, known for his explosive scoring and ability to create his own shot, tallied 27.0 SPs to lead all rookies.

Trailing him are:

• RJ Abarrientos (Barangay Ginebra San Miguel) – 25.6 SPs 
• Caelan Tiongson (Rain or Shine Elasto Painters) – 22.3 SPs 
• Kai Ballungay (Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters) – 20.1 SPs 
• CJ Cansino (Meralco Bolts) – 18.1 SPs 

Barefield’s strong offensive performances, especially for a rebuilding Blackwater squad, give him the inside track, but competition remains tight among this promising rookie class.

The Most Improved Player (MIP) award will be hotly contested as several players stepped up significantly during Season 49. The top candidates include:

• Zavier Lucero (Magnolia Hotshots) – who bounced back from injury to become a key rotation player 
• Joshua Munzon (NorthPort Batang Pier) – found his rhythm in a breakout scoring season 
• Adrian Nocum (Rain or Shine Elasto Painters) – provided energy and consistency on both ends 
• Louie Sangalang (Terrafirma Dyip) – improved physical presence and rebounding 
• Schonny Winston (Converge FiberXers) – showed scoring flashes and versatility off the bench 

All five players significantly boosted their production and impact, making this one of the most competitive MIP races in recent memory.

The prestigious Samboy Lim Sportsmanship Award also features a stacked list of contenders, including respected veterans and emerging leaders known for their class and conduct on and off the court:

• Aaron Black (Meralco Bolts) 
• Bong Quinto (Meralco Bolts) 
• Stephen Holt (Barangay Ginebra) 
• Scottie Thompson (Barangay Ginebra) 
• Marcio Lassiter (San Miguel Beermen) 
• Gian Mamuyac (Rain or Shine) 
• Tyler Tio (Phoenix Super LPG) 

The award recognizes fair play, professionalism, and respect for the game — values all these players have embodied throughout the season.

As anticipation builds ahead of the Season 49 Leo Awards, fans and analysts alike will be closely watching to see if Fajardo makes history once again — or if a new face rises to the top of the league’s highest individual honor.

With a mix of legendary names and rising stars across multiple award races, the 49th season of the PBA delivered no shortage of compelling narratives — setting the stage for an unforgettable Season 50, which tips off with the Philippine Cup in October 2025.

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