June Mar Fajardo has a bunch of nicknames, apparently.
PBA
Now, this is no fake news, but the San Miguel Beermen center has been in the PBA for 11 years, and he’s really been named MVP seven times. Who does that? Not even Michael Jordan and LeBron James could ever do that in the NBA.
As incredible as June Mar’s accomplishments are, one guy always believed in the towering Cebuano’s infinite potential to win the game’s top individual honor. That guy is none other than Fajardo’s former SMB teammate Arwind Santos.
On Monday, the PBA’s most dominant force went on Instagram and posted a picture of him holding baby number seven.
“Thank you all so much,” Fajardo wrote.
Santos then responded with a thoughtful message that included his NSFW nickname for Abai.
“Congrats Bulbol! Sabi ko sa iyo madami pa ‘yan,” commented Santos, who was, perhaps coincidentally, the PBA MVP of the 2012–2013 season—otherwise known as the season before the JMF era formally began as Fajardo claimed the plum the next six seasons after that.
Well, that’s what happens when you win eight PBA crowns together. Teammates become brothers and teasing each other becomes a form of showing love and affection.
Anyway, other PBA stars also hopped in on June Mar’s post and agreed on one thing: They all called Fajardo The GOAT.
Former NLEX Road Warrior Kiefer Ravena used goat emojis to say his piece, though he couldn’t help but poke fun at Fajardo’s straightforward caption.
“Sa 7 na MVP, napagod ka na mag caption, Abai!! The 🐐🐐🐐,” he said.
Current NLEX Road Warrior Kevin Alas made sure that his comment won’t be misconstrued.
“GOAT,” said Fajardo’s Gilas Pilipinas teammate in the Asian Games.
Along with those two, SMB guard Jericho Cruz, Terrafirma Dyip floor general Juami Tiongson, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel elder statesman Jared Dillinger, among others, all referred to June Mar as the greatest of all time.
Oh, and yes, the 48th season of the PBA is already underway. We’ll see soon if the GOAT will be off to another MVP-type campaign.