Japeth and Fajardo dispute the honor of the BPC; Best import race toss-up

CAN Japeth Aguilar win the battle against this time June March Fajardo?

The Barangay Ginebra big man stands in the way of Fajardo’s bid for a record Best player in the conference award, which will be presented just before Game 4 of the PBA Governor’s Cup final between the kings and TNT Tropang Giga.

37-year-old Aguilar won the war against 34-year-old Fajardo after Ginebra eliminated San Miguel in a grueling semi-final series that lasted six games.

Aguilar can pull off a double against his good friend and Gilas Pilipina teammate if he takes home his first-ever BPC award.

The 6-foot-4 Fajardo, of course, had the huge advantage over Aguilar as he topped the statistical race among the five candidates that also included NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino, NLEX’s Robert Bolick, San Miguel teammate CJ Perez and another Ginebra player in Scottie Thompson.

Fajardo, owner of a record 10 BPC honorees, finished with 44.8 statistical points behind an impressive 21.0 points, 3.1 assists, 1.0 blocks and a league-best 16.3 rebounds.

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That’s certainly a big lead over Aguilar, who ranks fifth with Thompson with a similar 32.2 spps.

The 6-foot-4 Aguilar posted 18.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in what has been one of his best-ever conferences as he emerged as the Kings’ only major force in the frontcourt since the team exchanged. away Christian Standhardinger.

Thompson, one of only two players to win an MVP award in the Fajardo era, is also mentioned in the conversation following the Kings’ march to the Finals, but Aguilar appeared to have the inside track for the award against his Ginebra -teammate.

Statistical points account for 45 percent in both the BPC and Best Import races, with the remainder down to media votes (30 percent) and players (25 percent).

PHOTO: Sherwin Vardeleon

A BPC award is one of the few major titles not to be found in Aguilar’s trophy case, as the eight-time PBA champion has been the winner of Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, a nine-time All-Star and three-time First Mythical Team. , two-time Second Mythical Team and three-time All-Defensive Team member.

In the event that Fajardo wins his record 11th PBC award, he will become the first player to capture the conference’s top individual honor and not play in the finals since Christian Standhardinger last did so at Governors’ 2019 Cup.

PHOTO: Marc Cristino

TNT’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, on the other hand, is favored to win a runner-up Best Import award at the expense of rival Justin Brownlee of Barangay Ginebra.

The Arizona University alum did not come out on top from the start, finishing with 57.4 spps as he guided the Tropang Giga back to the final for a chance to retain their title.

The former NBA player averaged 28.0 points, 12.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.9 blocks and 2.9 steals, which is the best in the league.

Hollis-Jefferson also won the award in the 2023 edition of the Governors’ Cup, where TNT defeated Ginebra in six games for the championship.

Brownlee was second behind the Jordan team’s naturalized player with 50.9 spps after averaging 28.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.5 block shots.

The naturalized Gilas Pilipinas player has received the Best Import award three times.

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