WILL June Mar Fajado sustains his MVP reign or will Arvin Tolentino or Robert Bolick be good enough to topple the King?
The answer will be known on Sunday as the PBA honors the best of Season 49 in its annual Leo Awards at the Novotel Manila Araneta Center.
Fajardo is gunning for a record-extending ninth MVP overall, a feat no other player has done in the five-decade history of Asia's pioneering professional league.
And he has all the numbers to back him up.
The San Miguel Beer star led all players in statistical points by the end of the season with 42.1, was the top rebounder with 16.1, and ranked third in scoring at 19.2 behind a 60.2 field goal shooting.
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He was also Best Player of the Conference in the Governors' Cup and Philippine Cup, the latter of which he helped the Beermen regain the championship over grand slam-seeking TNT Tropang 5G.
Eyeing to give the 35-year-old Fajardo a run for his money are Bolick and Tolentino, who finished second and third in statistical points with 36.7 and 35.3, respectively.
Bolick of NLEX also emerged as the no. 1 in the assist department with 7.6 and was second in scoring at 20.6, while Tolentino was the league's scoring champ with a 21.2 average and the Best Player of the Conference during the mid-season Commissioner's Cup.
Statistical Points carry a weight of 45 percent, while votes from the media and players are at 30 percent and 25 percent, respectively.
As the three official candidates for the MVP plum, Fajardo, Bolick, and Tolentino are likewise locked up to lead nominees for the Mythical Team selection.
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Other candidates for the Mythical Team (both 1st and 2nd teams) are Japeth Aguilar, Justin Arana, Xavier Lucero, Calvin Oftana, Jason Perkins, RJ Abarrientos, Sedrick Barefield, Stephen Holt, Joshua Munzon, Rey Nambatac, Chris Newsome, Adrian Nocum, CJ Perez, Roger Pogoy, Alec Stockton, Scottie Thompson, and Deschon Winston.
Also to be named is the Rookie of the Year which is being contested by Blackwater's Barefield (27.0 sps), Ginebra's Abarrientos (25.6), Caelan Tiongson of Rain or Shine (22.3), Kai Ballungay of Phoenix (20.1), and Meralco's CJ Cansino (18.1).
Season 49 top rookie pick Justin Baltazar didn't qualify after failing to see action in at least 70 percent of the total games by Converge.
Munzon (Northport), Lucero (Magnolia), Nocum (Rain or Shine), Winston (Converge), and Louie Sangalang (Terrafirma) are crowding each other for the Most Improved Player Award, while a total of 34 nominees are in the running for the All-Defensive Team led by the 6-foot-11 Fajardo.
For the Samboy Lim Sportsmanship Award, the candidates include Gian Mamuyac (Rain or Shine), Aaron Black (Meralco), Bong Quinto (Meralco), Holt and Thompson (Ginebra), Marcio Lassiter (San Miguel), and Tyler Tio (Phoenix).(RG)
