I remember watching the 2018 PBA season with particular interest because it marked a fascinating turning point in Philippine basketball history. The Most Valuable Player award that year went to someone who truly embodied what it means to push through adversity - June Mar Fajardo of the San Miguel Beermen. Now, when we talk about MVP achievements, we often focus on statistics, and Fajardo's numbers were certainly impressive: he averaged around 18.2 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game during that championship run. But what really stood out to me was how his journey mirrored the very resilience we saw in that memorable TNT versus Rain or Shine semifinal series that Coach Chot Reyes famously commented on.
The connection might not be immediately obvious, but let me explain why Fajardo's MVP season and Coach Reyes' statement about "refusal to quit" are deeply intertwined. I've followed Fajardo's career since his rookie year, and what struck me most about his 2018 campaign was how he overcame what could have been a career-threatening injury just the previous season. He suffered a knee injury that required surgery and extensive rehabilitation, yet he came back not just as the same player, but actually better. This refusal to let physical setbacks define his career reminded me so much of how Coach Reyes described his team's mentality in that crucial Game 2 overtime victory. Both situations demonstrated that championship mentality isn't just about talent - it's about that stubborn determination to keep going when everything seems stacked against you.
What many casual observers might not realize is how Fajardo's MVP season was built on incremental improvements in nearly every aspect of his game. I recall analyzing his footwork from his early years compared to 2018, and the transformation was remarkable. He developed a more reliable mid-range jumper, improved his free-throw percentage from 65% to nearly 75%, and became significantly better at reading double teams. These weren't flashy changes, but they demonstrated his commitment to refining his craft - another form of that refusal to quit that extends beyond individual games to the daily grind of practice and preparation. His work ethic became legendary within PBA circles, with teammates often sharing stories about how he'd be the first to arrive and last to leave training facilities.
The context of Fajardo winning his fifth MVP award in 2018 also deserves special attention because it placed him in truly rarefied air in PBA history. Winning five MVP awards meant he surpassed legends like Ramon Fernandez and Alvin Patrimonio, which is incredible when you consider that Fajardo had been playing professionally for only about six seasons at that point. I've always believed that sustained excellence is harder to achieve than sporadic brilliance, and Fajardo represented exactly that kind of consistent dominance. His ability to maintain peak performance through multiple conferences and seasons while facing constant defensive attention speaks volumes about his mental toughness and adaptability.
Looking back at specific moments from that 2018 season, I'm particularly drawn to the Philippine Cup finals where Fajardo's Beermen faced the Magnolia Hotshots. There was one game where he played through foul trouble early, adjusted his defensive approach to avoid disqualification, and still managed to put up 24 points and 15 rebounds. That game, to me, exemplified what separates good players from MVP-caliber performers - the ability to impact games even when circumstances aren't ideal. It's the same quality we saw in that TNT-Rain or Shine semifinal where players had to adapt to overtime pressure after a hard-fought regulation. Both situations required not just physical skill but tremendous basketball IQ and emotional composure.
The voting results for the 2018 MVP award reflected Fajardo's dominance, with him receiving over 2,300 points from the selection committee compared to the second-place finisher's roughly 1,500 points. While statistics certainly contributed to this margin, I'm convinced that voters also recognized the intangible leadership qualities Fajardo demonstrated throughout the season. Having watched numerous post-game interviews and locker room interactions that year, I noticed how teammates consistently praised his quiet but firm leadership style. He led by example rather than words, showing younger players what professional dedication looks like through his daily habits and game preparation.
Reflecting on Fajardo's achievement within the broader context of PBA history, I'd argue that his 2018 MVP season represented a shift in how we evaluate big men in Philippine basketball. Traditionally, centers were often valued primarily for their defensive presence and rebounding, but Fajardo demonstrated that modern big men needed to be offensive focal points and facilitators too. His improved passing out of double teams created numerous scoring opportunities for teammates, and his efficiency in the post forced opponents to fundamentally change their defensive schemes. This evolution in the center position has since influenced how younger players approach developing their games, with many now working on more versatile skill sets rather than specializing in traditional big man roles.
The legacy of Fajardo's 2018 MVP season continues to resonate in today's PBA landscape. When I watch current games, I still see traces of his influence in how teams utilize their big men and how players approach their development. His combination of individual excellence and team success - San Miguel won the Philippine Cup that season with a 4-1 series victory - set a standard that current players still aspire toward. More importantly, his journey from injury rehabilitation to MVP honors serves as an enduring reminder that basketball greatness isn't just about natural talent, but about that relentless refusal to quit that Coach Reyes identified as the crucial ingredient in championship basketball. That lesson, I believe, transcends individual seasons or awards and gets to the very heart of what makes sports compelling - the human capacity to overcome obstacles through determination and continuous improvement.
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