SAN Miguel Beer’s towering center June Mar Fajardo achieved a momentous feat on Sunday, securing his seventh Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, extending a PBA record that may stand unparalleled for years to come.

The 6-foot-9 Cebuano stalwart reclaimed the league’s most esteemed individual honor after missing out last year due to a serious foot injury, allowing Barangay Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson to take the spotlight.

Fajardo’s recent victory adds to his remarkable collection, marking his seventh MVP title in the last eight years since 2012, a milestone unmatched by any other player in PBA history. Reflecting on his journey, the 33-year-old admitted that during his recovery from a fractured tibia, he had feared it might signify the end of his illustrious career, especially poignant as he celebrated his first MVP without his late mother Marites, evoking emotions that moved him to tears.

Dominating the competition, Fajardo accumulated a total of 2,248 points, leading in both the statistical points (1,244) and media votes (852), and securing the second spot among the players’ votes (152). Christian Standhardinger closely trailed Fajardo with 1,559 points, making it his closest finish yet in the MVP race, while Thompson secured third place with 1,539 points, despite topping the players’ votes (166). CJ Perez rounded out the top four contenders, amassing 1,177 points.

The victory of The Kraken was not embraced smoothly by a portion of the million fanbase of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

One argument that they are spitting out is the injury of Fajardo in the Governors’ Cup. But in reality, he still played nine games in that tournament.

Fajardo has two big argument of winning the award. It is his #1 position in statistics and by being the leader of the team that won the most prestigious tournament every season, the Philippine cup.

I do not think Scottie Thompson or Christian Standhardinger has two stronger arguments to overcome those.