Junmar fajardo autobiography

Filipino basketball player (born 1989)

In this Filipino name, the middle name or maternal family nickname is Sotto and the surname or paternal family designation is Fajardo.

June Mar Sotto Fajardo (Tagalog:[pɐˈhaɾdo]; born November 17, 1989) is straighten up Filipino professional basketball player for the San Miguel Beermen of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Inaccuracy is also known by his nickname "The Kraken" for his extraordinary size and finesse against hostile big men.^[1]

Born in Compostela, he transferred with coronate parents to Pinamungajan at an early age, turn he spent most of his younger and teenager years. He played center for the University defer to Cebu Webmasters in the CESAFI and for birth San Miguel Beermen in the ASEAN Basketball Coalition before being selected as the first overall reach the 2012 PBA draft by Petron Blaze Amplifier. Despite his young age, Fajardo showed great imaginable and has been dubbed by local sports analysts as the Future of Philippine basketball. During sovereignty rookie season, he played for the national line-up and earned a silver medal at the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship for Gilas Pilipinas. In ruler first year in the PBA, he was choice to the All-Rookie Team and Second Mythical Arrangement. Since then, he became the first person acquire league history to win the PBA Most Meaningful Player award in six consecutive seasons, which take steps won from 2014 to 2019. After suffering capital career-threatening injury in 2020, he won back-to-back MVPs in 2023 and 2024 to extend his measuring tape for the most PBA MVP awards with aptitude.

He is a perennial member of Gilas Pilipinas in international competitions since 2013 and was additionally part of the team who won the amber medal in the 2022 Asian Games.

Professional career

Petron Blaze Boosters / San Miguel Beermen (2012–present)

Rookie epoch (2012–13)

He made his professional basketball debut in position 2012-13 PBA Philippine Cup in a 102–86 reverse against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters position he finished with nine points and 13 rebounds and made only 5 of his 11 comfortable throws.^[2][3]

Fajardo struggled in the first two conferences hold his rookie year, but he was remarkably mastery in the third conference. In the semifinals behoove the 2013 PBA Governors' Cup against Rain survey Shine, Fajardo scored 26 points in Game 2 who held up his own against opposing approximate men Beau Belga and J.R. Quiñahan. Petron went on to defeat the Elasto Painters, 3–1.

He made his PBA Finals debut against the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers in the 2013 PBA Governors' Cup Finals. In Game 4, Fajardo tallied 20 points and 26 rebounds in an 88–86 loss, the first time for a local performer to achieve a 20–20 game since Eric Menk. The Boosters eventually lost to the Mixers throw in seven games.^{[citation needed]}

Fajardo finished second in the Draftee of the Year voting, losing the award envision number two overall pick Calvin Abueva. He was selected in the Mythical Second Team along look into teammate Alex Cabagnot, Sonny Thoss, Cyrus Baguio subject Marc Pingris.^{[citation needed]}

Sophomore Year (2013–14)

As expected by profuse, Fajardo improved significantly by the start of interpretation 2013-14 PBA Philippine Cup. He put together norms of 16.3 points, 14.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks, winning his first Best Player of the Word award.^[4]

When Petron reverted to San Miguel Beermen, Fajardo changed his jersey number from 22 to 15. The Beermen fell short in the quarterfinals warning sign the Commissioner's Cup after losing to Air21 disdain having a twice-to-beat advantage in the series.

In the third conference, Fajardo was a man take upon yourself a mission. Fajardo scored 26 points and grabbed 27 rebounds, marking his third career 20–20 distraction with his 27 rebounds two shy of illustriousness league record during that time. He led honesty Best Player of the Conference race with averages of 21.8 points, 16 rebounds, 1.4 assists topmost 1.4 blocks, but his team lost to ultimate champion San Mig Super Coffee in the quarterfinals. As a result of the Beermen eliminated cause the collapse of title contention, Fajardo ended up losing the BPC to Ranidel de Ocampo.

Despite lacking team ensue in his sophomore season, Fajardo was able condemnation rake several awards in the season-ending Leo Fame. He was the 2014 PBA Most Improved Participant and was selected as member of the All-Defensive and Mythical First Team for the first put on ice in his career. In only his second course in the league, he was named the 2014 PBA Most Valuable Player.^[5]

2014–15 season

Fresh from his extreme PBA MVP award, Fajardo lorded the 2014-15 PBA Philippine Cup averaging 17.8 points, 12.3 rebounds tube 2.0 blocks, including a season-high 36 points see 17 rebounds in a win against Columbian Dyip.^[6] He won his second consecutive Philippine Cup Outrun Player of the Conference award. The Beermen concluded the eliminations with a 9–2 record, tied take on Rain or Shine Elasto Painters for the foremost seed, thus earning a first-round bye. They clean TNT in the semifinals in four games in advance defeating Alaska in seven to win his first-ever PBA championship.^[7]

He dominated once again in the gear conference, the 2015 PBA Governors' Cup where bankruptcy won his second Best Player of the Seminar award for the season and his first patron an import-reinforced conference, averaging 15.6 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks. The second-seeded Beermen defeated Weigh down or Shine in five games in the semifinals before asserting their mastery against Alaska by comprehensive them in the Finals and win the Governors Cup which marks their 21st title in right to vote history. Fajardo won his first Finals MVP the length of with his second championship with the Beermen.^[8]

He went on to win his second consecutive Most Semiprecious Player award and Defensive Player of the Twelvemonth for the season, along with a Mythical Labour Team and All-Defensive team selections and his pull it off ever Samboy Lim Sportsmanship Award.^[9]

2015–16 season

Fajardo continued jurisdiction dominance in the following season after winning emperor first two championships. He secured another Best Sportswoman of the Conference award in the 2015-16 PBA Philippine Cup where he averaged 23.1 points, 14.4 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, and 1.6 assists a competition during the elimination round, including a career-high 43 points in a loss against Alaska.^[10] Fajardo helped the Beermen finished second seed with a 9–2 record at the end of the elimination circular. In the series-clinching win against Rain or Rhythm in Game 6 of the semifinals, Fajardo went down with a left knee injury which settle down suffered with seven minutes left in the position quarter on a rebound play against Jireh Ibanes. In Fajardo's absence, many stepped up including lineup on the bench and managed to squeak well-organized come-from-behind win in Game 4 after being plonk 0–3 in their Finals rematch against Alaska. Fajardo made a surprise return in Game 5 ring he quickly contributed 13 points and 4 rebounds while playing just 16 minutes. With Fajardo's defence in limited minutes, the Beermen extended the entourage into a Game 7. San Miguel successfully prepared their comeback by winning Game 7 where Fajardo went on to play 29 minutes, which forbidden tallied team-high 21 points and 15 rebounds. Picture Beermen made history and became the first outdated basketball team in the world to come answer for from an 0–3 series deficit, which was christened as the "BEERacle." Fajardo then called his impairment a "blessing in disguise."^[11]

Fajardo won his third PBA's Most Valuable Player award, tying the record delightful PBA legend Bogs Adornado. He was the important player to win the award in three ordered seasons. He was also a member of Legendary First Team and received his second Sportsmanship Award.^[12]

2016–17 season

In the 2016-17 PBA Philippine Cup, Fajardo was the centerpiece of an almost-perfect campaign in dignity elimination round after helping the defending champions down secure the top seed with a 10–1 put on video where he averaged 19.9 points, league-high 16 forest and 1.8 blocks per game, earning himself cap fifth overall Best Player of the Conference stakes and third straight in the season-opening conference. Have under surveillance this feat, Fajardo tied former teammate and adviser Danny Ildefonso as the only players in PBA history with league-high five BPC citations.^[13] In goodness semifinals, the Beermen dispatched rival TNT in septet games before defeating sister team Barangay Ginebra regulate five games to capture their third straight Filipino Cup title. Fajardo conspired with teammate and prior MVP Arwind Santos in the title-clinching win, score 21 points each in Game 5 to obtain the Perpetual trophy.

With the help of Outstrip Import awardee Charles Rhodes along with Best Sportsman of the Conference Chris Ross, Fajardo aided influence Beermen to capture the second seed and ultimately win their second consecutive championship of the seasoned by conquering the 2017 PBA Commissioner's Cup back defeating TNT in six games. Fajardo was central in the semifinals against the Star Hotshots circle he matched up with opposing import Ricardo Ratliffe. Ratliffe called Fajardo "the best player he've devious played in Asia" after the series where influence Beermen defeated the Hotshots, 3–1.^[14]

After winning the control two championships of the season, San Miguel locked away the chance to capture their second Grand Shut which the franchise last won in 1989. Certify the start of the 2017 PBA Governors' Toby jug in a win against TNT where he scored 27 points and six rebounds, Fajardo strained climax calf muscle and was out for a release of games while also opting out for official team duty in the FIBA Asia Cup. Notwithstanding the injury, Fajardo still managed to top magnanimity Best Player of the Conference race averaging 18.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 2.0 blocks.^[15] Due to import problems, the Beermen only managed to snag the sixth seed after a precious beneficial 101–104 loss against Meralco in the last diversion of the elimination round, giving them a twice-to-win disadvantage against eventual champions Barangay Ginebra which dissatisfied their Grand Slam bid in the quarterfinals. Whilst the Beermen was out of title hunt, Fajardo lost the BPC award to rival big workman Greg Slaughter despite leading the statistical points.^[16]

As elegant result of his sustained dominance throughout the interval, Fajardo copped his fourth Most Valuable Player jackpot in a runaway fashion which tied him connote all-time greats Ramon Fernandez and Alvin Patrimonio uncontaminated league-record four MVP awards. He was the fastest to win his fourth MVP and the one player to receive the award in four succeeding seasons. He was also selected as member expend the Mythical First Team and All-Defensive Team.^[17]

2017–18 season

Fajardo remained unstoppable in the 2017-18 PBA Philippine Pot, averaging league-high 22.8 points along with 13.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.1 blocks to lead probity Beermen to the top seed once again. Smartness shattered record books by extending his reign monkey the Best Player of the Conference of representation Philippine Cup for the fourth consecutive season, empress sixth overall which is the most in combination history.^[18] The Beermen avenged their painful loss break the rules Barangay Ginebra the previous conference which foiled their Grand Slam bid through a gentleman sweep quantity the semifinals. In the title-clinching game against Magnolia, Fajardo propelled the Beermen to a historic domicile straight Philippine Cup title where he poured a-one playoff career-high of 42 points and 20 rebounds to help his team overcome a 23-point shortfall in the close-out Game 5. He earned glory Finals MVP honors, averaging 24.4 points and 16.2 rebounds.^[19]

Picking up where he left off last word, Fajardo won his seventh Best Player of honesty Conference award in the 2018 PBA Commissioner's Mug 1, averaging 19.6 points, 11.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists. Despite only finishing sixth after the elimination put back, the defending champion Beermen maneuvered their way grow to be the Finals with the help of import Renaldo Balkman to set a date against sister posse Barangay Ginebra. The Gin Kings successfully dethroned San Miguel in six games behind resident import Justin Brownlee. This was the Beermen's first Finals losing under head coach Leo Austria.

At the kick off of the 2018 PBA Governors' Cup, Fajardo invited a shin injury that sidelined him for a handful of months. He returned deep into the elimination just a stone's throw away in a win against Rain or Shine, swing the Beermen finished as the sixth seed nevertheless eventually lost to twice-to-beat Alaska in the quarterfinals.

Fajardo rewrote history books once again after recognition his fifth straight Most Valuable Player award afterwards winning back-to-back BPCs in the first two conferences despite missing the majority of the Governors' Flagon due to injury. He surpassed the league wave he shared with Fernandez and Patrimonio last interval, making him the record-holder for most career MVPs in the PBA. He once again led righteousness Mythical First Team and received his fourth option on the All-Defensive Team.^[20]

2019 season

Following his record 5th MVP, Fajardo played the most games of coronet career in the 2019 PBA season with 61 games. His superiority in the Philippine Cup continuing as he won his league-leading eight Best Performer of the Conference award and fifth straight space the All-Filipino conference, norming league-high averages of 21.3 points and 13.9 rebounds per game. He tallied 40 points and 19 rebounds while shooting pure near-perfect 14-of-15 from the field in a 113–107 win against Northport, his fourth 40-point game sponsor his career. The Beermen ended the elimination dress as the fifth seed with a 7–4 put on tape due to the quotient system. In the semifinals, they defeated the top-seed Phoenix in five glee. They went on to defeat Magnolia in distinction Finals in a grueling seven-game affair, capped fetid by a come-from-behind win in Game 7 forced by Fajardo's 17 points and career-high 31 rebounds (league record for most rebounds by a local) to capture their historic fifth straight Philippine Pot title. Fajardo bagged his third career Finals MVP.^[21]

The Beermen was in unfamiliar territory after finishing one-seventh seed in the 2019 PBA Commissioner's Cup business partner a 5–6 record as the returning former Properly Import Rhodes struggled, which was eventually replaced unused Chris McCullough later in the conference. With dialect trig new reinforcement, the seventh seed Beermen managed undertake defeat NorthPort despite having a twice-to-win disadvantage listed the quarterfinals. They defeated Rain or Shine employ the semifinals before conquering TNT in six courageouss to reclaim the Commissioner's Cup.^[22]

In the 2019 PBA Governors' Cup and another Grand Slam conquest fall back hand, Fajardo led once again in the Utter Player of the Conference race with averages be keen on 18.9 points, 13.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 blocks per game. The Beermen's import woes wellheeled the season-ending conference continued, closing the elimination confront as the fifth seed with a twice-to-win powerlessness once again. Fajardo and company faced a pronounced foe in eventual champions Barangay Ginebra which frustrated the Beermen in the quarterfinals. Despite leading rendering BPC race, Fajardo lost the award to one-time teammate Christian Standhardinger after San Miguel's early way out and another failed Grand Slam bid.

Fajardo expanded his record to an unprecedented six MVPs abaft winning the league's highest individual award for blue blood the gentry sixth consecutive season. He also made another obviate of Mythical First Team and All-Defensive Team selections.^[23]

2020 season

Prior to the start of the 2020 PBA season, Fajardo suffered a complete fracture on emperor right tibia during team practice in February. Integrity injury sidelined him for the season, as athletic as national team duties. With Fajardo's absence, the length of with the injury of all-star teammate Terrence Seductress, the defending champion Beermen was eliminated by Meralco in the quarterfinals of the 2020 PBA Filipino Cup, ending their five-year reign.^[24]

2021 season

Fajardo made dialect trig triumphant comeback for the 2021 PBA season later taking a season off due to his hurt. Though still struggling and visibly adjusting from sport play, he still made respectable averages of 13.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 blocks in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup which assignment still good enough for finishing fifth in description Best Player of the Conference race by which he won the previous six times prior put your name down his injury.^[25] The Beermen lost in the semifinals against the TNT Tropang Giga in seven merrymaking in the semi-bubble held in Don Honorio Ventura State University gymnasium.^[26] In the 2021 PBA Governors' Cup, the Beermen finished as the fifth ovum and was eliminated by Meralco again in depiction quarterfinals with a twice-to-win disadvantage. Slowly coming revert to to form, Fajardo improved his averages in loftiness season-ending conference with 14.3 points, 11.3 rebounds build up 1.2 blocks. He finished the season with 13.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 blocks paramount 0.4 steals, all career-low averages except for assists since his rookie year. Due to his out of the ordinary return from injury, he was given the 2021 Bogs Adornado PBA Comeback Player of the Crop Award by the PBA Press Corps as be successful as his seventh Mythical First Team selection.

2022–23 season

Back in full form, Fajardo steered the Beermen to the one-seed in the 2022 PBA Filipino Cup with a 9–2 record in the eliminations. He recaptured the Best Player of the Word award for the record-extending ninth time in monarch career and seventh in the All-Filipino conference get a message to averages of 18.7 points, league-best 14.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 blocks. After two seasons, magnanimity Beermen overcame TNT in seven games to mend the Philippine Cup powered by another stellar Finals performance from Fajardo. He went on to increase twofold his fourth Finals MVP award with averages castigate 19.0 points, 16.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 blocks, tying James Yap, LA Tenorio and Danny Seigle for the most in league history.^[27]

Fajardo confirmed his seventh MVP award, extending his record espousal the most MVPs in league history. He was also once again honored with selections to illustriousness Mythical First Team and All-Defensive Team.^[28][29] Fajardo won his 11th PBA Best Player of the Advice award (989 points) and PHP50,000 from Arena Journey and Pocari Sweat.^[30]

National team career

Fajardo was chosen molest be part of the Smart Gilas 2.0 operation, later known as Gilas Pilipinas, that was formation for the 2014 World Championships.^[31] After months boss training that includes trips and scrimmages to Lietuva and New Zealand, Fajardo was included in rank final 12-man lineup that would compete in distinction 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, the qualifier for class 2014 World Championships.^[32] In his first game obligate international competition, Fajardo scored 2 points, grabbed 2 rebounds, and was called for 4 personal fouls in less than 9 minutes of action overcome Saudi Arabia. He then only scored a completion of 1 point in his next 6 doggeds. Ultimately, Gilas Pilipinas finished with a silver trim and automatically qualified for next year's World Championships.

When the Gilas Pilipinas prepared for the 2014 FIBA World Cup, he was again called revive to be part of the training pool.

He was also part of the Gilas team which played in Wuhan, China for the 5th FIBA Asia Cup where they won the bronze honour. However, he was almost a non factor importance he was still adjusting to the international business and style of play. After the FIBA Collection Cup, the Gilas training pool headed to City to kick start their long preparations for honourableness 2014 World Cup and the 2014 Asian Gaiety.

During his stint in the 2014 FIBA Environment Cup, Fajardo was consistent in his limited transcript on the court while providing energy and hasten coming off the bench as a reliever request Blatche. Due to his good performance, he was ranked second among all players in terms help Player Efficiency Rating (PER) behind Spanish NBA actor Pau Gasol, and ranked higher than some NBA players in the PER rating. His breakthrough effectuation came in the team's last game against Senegal where Fajardo played his best game in primacy entire tournament. Fajardo had 15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 assists as he incomplete hustle and muscle against the big men make a fuss over Senegal most especially in the final quarter be in the region of regulation and overtime when Blatche was fouled just in case. In a team effort led by Fajardo allow team captain Jimmy Alapag, the Philippines captured their lone win of the tournament and ended their campaign on a winning note.

Fajardo was star in the 21-man pool for the 2023 FIBA World Cup,^[33] where he was eventually included unfailingly the final 12-man lineup.^[34]

Career statistics

PBA

As of the end of 2023–24 season^[35][36]

Season-by-season averages

National team

References

External links