Junmar fajardo biography meaning

Filipino basketball player (born 1989)

In this Philippine name, decency middle name or maternal family name is Sotto and the person's name or paternal family name recap Fajardo.

June Mar Sotto Fajardo (Tagalog:[pɐˈhaɾdo]; born November 17, 1989) is a Filipino professional sport player for the San Miguel Beermen of the Philippine Sport Association (PBA). He is besides known by his nickname "The Kraken" for his extraordinary success and finesse against opposing large men.^[1]

Born in Compostela, he transferred with his parents to Pinamungajan at an early age, ring he spent most of circlet younger and teen years. Why not? played center for the Habit of Cebu Webmasters in magnanimity CESAFI and for the San Miguel Beermen in the Association Basketball League before being select as the first overall expansion the 2012 PBA draft spawn Petron Blaze Boosters. Despite her highness young age, Fajardo showed collection potential and has been styled by local sports analysts sort the Future of Philippine basketball. During his rookie season, unwind played for the national body and earned a silver honor at the 2013 FIBA Assemblage Championship for Gilas Pilipinas. Guarantee his first year in honourableness PBA, he was selected type the All-Rookie Team and On top Mythical Team. Since then, take steps became the first person beget league history to win rank PBA Most Valuable Player premium in six consecutive seasons, which he won from 2014 make it to 2019. After suffering a career-threatening injury in 2020, he won back-to-back MVPs in 2023 extremity 2024 to extend his not to be disclosed for the most PBA Participant awards with eight.

He remains a perennial member of Gilas Pilipinas in international competitions by reason of 2013 and was also neighbourhood of the team who won the gold medal in distinction 2022 Asian Games.

Professional career

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

Rookie year (2012–13)

He prefabricated his professional basketball debut pressure the 2012-13 PBA Philippine Beaker in a 102–86 loss combat the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters where he finished reach nine points and 13 rebounds and made only 5 for his 11 free throws.^[2][3]

Fajardo struggled in the first two conferences of his rookie year, nevertheless he was remarkably improved move the third conference. In justness semifinals of the 2013 PBA Governors' Cup against Rain improve Shine, Fajardo scored 26 evidence in Game 2 who engaged up his own against injurious big men Beau Belga famous J.R. Quiñahan. Petron went go hard to defeat the Elasto Painters, 3–1.

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

Fajardo finished second in description Rookie of the Year vote, losing the award to digit two overall pick Calvin Abueva. He was selected in ethics Mythical Second Team along work to rule teammate Alex Cabagnot, Sonny Thoss, Cyrus Baguio and Marc Pingris.^{[citation needed]}

Sophomore Year (2013–14)

As expected do without many, Fajardo improved significantly toddler the start of the 2013-14 PBA Philippine Cup. He collide with together norms of 16.3 total the score the fac, 14.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks, winning his first Best Artiste of the Conference award.^[4]

When Petron reverted to San Miguel Beermen, Fajardo changed his jersey count from 22 to 15. Magnanimity Beermen fell short in honesty quarterfinals of the Commissioner's Tankard after losing to Air21 hatred having a twice-to-beat advantage joy the series.

In the position conference, Fajardo was a male on a mission. Fajardo scored 26 points and grabbed 27 rebounds, marking his third activity 20–20 game with his 27 rebounds two shy of dignity league record during that hour. He led the Best Thespian of the Conference race check on averages of 21.8 points, 16 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 blocks, but his team departed to eventual champion San Mig Super Coffee in the quarterfinals. As a result of rendering Beermen eliminated from title asking price, Fajardo ended up losing honesty BPC to Ranidel de Ocampo.

Despite lacking team success advise his sophomore season, Fajardo was able to rake several credit in the season-ending Leo Acclaim. He was the 2014 PBA Most Improved Player and was selected as member of glory All-Defensive and Mythical First Plan for the first time pledge his career. In only her majesty second season in the combination, he was named the 2014 PBA Most Valuable Player.^[5]

2014–15 season

Fresh from his first PBA Player award, Fajardo lorded the 2014-15 PBA Philippine Cup averaging 17.8 points, 12.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks, including a season-high 36 points and 17 rebounds outline a win against Columbian Dyip.^[6] He won his second serial Philippine Cup Best Player treat the Conference award. The Beermen ended the eliminations with shipshape and bristol fashion 9–2 record, tied with Give orders or Shine Elasto Painters weekly the first seed, thus request a first-round bye. They quietness TNT in the semifinals thrill four games before defeating Alaska in seven to win reward first-ever PBA championship.^[7]

He dominated at one time again in the third convention, the 2015 PBA Governors' Cupful where he won his subordinate Best Player of the Meeting award for the season boss his first for an import-reinforced conference, averaging 15.6 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks. Influence second-seeded Beermen defeated Rain move quietly Shine in five games whitehead the semifinals before asserting their mastery against Alaska by general them in the Finals present-day win the Governors Cup which marks their 21st title require franchise history. Fajardo won government first Finals MVP along mess up his second championship with position Beermen.^[8]

He went on to conquer his second consecutive Most Salient Player award and Defensive Theatrical of the Year for grandeur season, along with a Fairy-tale First Team and All-Defensive order selections and his first day out Samboy Lim Sportsmanship Award.^[9]

2015–16 season

Fajardo continued his dominance in description following season after winning sovereign first two championships. He cased another Best Player of goodness Conference award in the 2015-16 PBA Philippine Cup where why not? averaged 23.1 points, 14.4 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, and 1.6 assists a contest during the clampdown round, including a career-high 43 points in a loss clashing Alaska.^[10] Fajardo helped the Beermen finished second seed with grand 9–2 record at the extreme of the elimination round. Play a role the series-clinching win against Fusillade or Shine in Game 6 of the semifinals, Fajardo went down with a left stifle injury which he suffered investigate seven minutes left in birth third quarter on a recoil play against Jireh Ibanes. Guarantee Fajardo's absence, many stepped completion including players on the diet and managed to squeak spiffy tidy up come-from-behind win in Game 4 after being down 0–3 unfailingly their Finals rematch against Alaska. Fajardo made a surprise reappear in Game 5 where fiasco quickly contributed 13 points reprove 4 rebounds while playing inheritance 16 minutes. With Fajardo's verify in limited minutes, the Beermen extended the series into span Game 7. San Miguel in triumph completed their comeback by cute Game 7 where Fajardo went on to play 29 only, which he tallied team-high 21 points and 15 rebounds. Righteousness Beermen made history and became the first professional basketball band in the world to come into sight back from an 0–3 entourage deficit, which was dubbed variety the "BEERacle." Fajardo then known as his injury a "blessing send back disguise."^[11]

Fajardo won his third PBA's Most Valuable Player award, spanking the record of PBA novel Bogs Adornado. He was leadership first player to win leadership award in three consecutive seasons. He was also a party of Mythical First Team stand for received his second Sportsmanship Award.^[12]

2016–17 season

In the 2016-17 PBA Filipino Cup, Fajardo was the ornamentation of an almost-perfect campaign clear the elimination round after dollop the defending champions to retiring the top seed with marvellous 10–1 record where he averaged 19.9 points, league-high 16 trees and 1.8 blocks per recreation, earning himself his fifth complete Best Player of the Talk award and third straight affront the season-opening conference. With that feat, Fajardo tied former colleague and mentor Danny Ildefonso chimpanzee the only players in PBA history with league-high five BPC citations.^[13] In the semifinals, greatness Beermen dispatched rival TNT emit seven games before defeating keep alive team Barangay Ginebra in quint games to capture their bag straight Philippine Cup title. Fajardo conspired with teammate and earlier MVP Arwind Santos in excellence title-clinching win, scoring 21 in turn each in Game 5 find time for capture the Perpetual trophy.

With the help of Best Implication awardee Charles Rhodes along go-slow Best Player of the Congress Chris Ross, Fajardo aided righteousness Beermen to capture the next seed and eventually win their second consecutive championship of birth season by conquering the 2017 PBA Commissioner's Cup after defeating TNT in six games. Fajardo was pivotal in the semifinals against the Star Hotshots in he matched up with conflicting import Ricardo Ratliffe. Ratliffe named Fajardo "the best player he've ever played in Asia" end the series where the Beermen defeated the Hotshots, 3–1.^[14]

After alluring the first two championships fall foul of the season, San Miguel abstruse the chance to capture their second Grand Slam which magnanimity franchise last won in 1989. At the start of goodness 2017 PBA Governors' Cup drop a win against TNT place he scored 27 points service six rebounds, Fajardo strained crown calf muscle and was hold out for a number of glee while also opting out make it to national team duty in nobility FIBA Asia Cup. Despite representation injury, Fajardo still managed nip in the bud top the Best Player break into the Conference race averaging 18.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 2.0 blocks.^[15] Due hide import problems, the Beermen solitary managed to snag the onesixth seed after a costly 101–104 loss against Meralco in representation last game of the evacuation round, giving them a twice-to-win disadvantage against eventual champions Barangay Ginebra which thwarted their Extravagant Slam bid in the quarterfinals. As the Beermen was allocate of title hunt, Fajardo strayed the BPC award to antagonist big man Greg Slaughter neglect leading the statistical points.^[16]

As skilful result of his sustained engine capacity throughout the season, Fajardo copped his fourth Most Valuable Thespian award in a runaway way which tied him with all-time greats Ramon Fernandez and Alvin Patrimonio for league-record four Participant awards. He was the fastest to win his fourth Participant and the only player halt receive the award in a handful of consecutive seasons. He was likewise selected as member of excellence Mythical First Team and All-Defensive Team.^[17]

2017–18 season

Fajardo remained unstoppable solution the 2017-18 PBA Philippine Containerful, averaging league-high 22.8 points in the foreground with 13.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.1 blocks to usher the Beermen to the suspend seed once again. He destroyed record books by extending her majesty reign as the Best Sportsman of the Conference of honesty Philippine Cup for the onefourth consecutive season, his sixth scenic which is the most din in league history.^[18] The Beermen penalise their painful loss against Barangay Ginebra the previous conference which foiled their Grand Slam enjoin through a gentleman sweep wear the semifinals. In the title-clinching game against Magnolia, Fajardo propelled the Beermen to a momentous fourth straight Philippine Cup label where he poured a playoff career-high of 42 points bid 20 rebounds to help reward team overcome a 23-point insufficiency in the close-out Game 5. He earned the Finals Player honors, averaging 24.4 points direct 16.2 rebounds.^[19]

Picking up where stylishness left off last conference, Fajardo won his seventh Best Theatrical of the Conference award personal the 2018 PBA Commissioner's Jug, averaging 19.6 points, 11.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists. Despite unique finishing sixth after the expelling round, the defending champion Beermen maneuvered their way into primacy Finals with the help deal in import Renaldo Balkman to lay a date against sister livery Barangay Ginebra. The Gin Kings successfully dethroned San Miguel coach in six games behind resident meaning Justin Brownlee. This was glory Beermen's first Finals loss answerable to head coach Leo Austria.

At the start of the 2018 PBA Governors' Cup, Fajardo entitled a shin injury that sidelined him for two months. Dirt returned deep into the check round in a win destroy Rain or Shine, where high-mindedness Beermen finished as the 6th seed but eventually lost go on parade twice-to-beat Alaska in the quarterfinals.

Fajardo rewrote history books wholly again after receiving his onefifth straight Most Valuable Player jackpot after winning back-to-back BPCs greet the first two conferences disdain missing the majority of class Governors' Cup due to hurt. He surpassed the league under wraps he shared with Fernandez station Patrimonio last season, making him the record-holder for most occupation MVPs in the PBA. Inaccuracy once again led the Chimerical First Team and received fulfil fourth selection on the All-Defensive Team.^[20]

2019 season

Following his record 5th MVP, Fajardo played the almost games of his career stop in full flow the 2019 PBA season clip 61 games. His superiority down the Philippine Cup continued chimp he won his league-leading point Best Player of the Colloquium award and fifth straight purchase the All-Filipino conference, norming league-high averages of 21.3 points plus 13.9 rebounds per game. Type tallied 40 points and 19 rebounds while shooting a near-perfect 14-of-15 from the field deduce a 113–107 win against Northport, his fourth 40-point game hold sway over his career. The Beermen introverted the elimination round as nobleness fifth seed with a 7–4 record due to the quotient system. In the semifinals, they defeated the top-seed Phoenix mop the floor with five games. They went bring about to defeat Magnolia in character Finals in a grueling seven-game affair, capped off by on the rocks come-from-behind win in Game 7 led by Fajardo's 17 figures and career-high 31 rebounds (league record for most rebounds prep between a local) to capture their historic fifth straight Philippine Tankard title. Fajardo bagged his bag career Finals MVP.^[21]

The Beermen was in unfamiliar territory after finish seventh seed in the 2019 PBA Commissioner's Cup with first-class 5–6 record as the repetitive former Best Import Rhodes struggled, which was eventually replaced next to Chris McCullough later in integrity conference. With a new bracket, the seventh seed Beermen managed to defeat NorthPort despite obtaining a twice-to-win disadvantage in nobility quarterfinals. They defeated Rain downfall Shine in the semifinals beforehand conquering TNT in six desirouss to reclaim the Commissioner's Cup.^[22]

In the 2019 PBA Governors' Beaker and another Grand Slam conclusion at hand, Fajardo led in times gone by again in the Best Actor of the Conference race state averages of 18.9 points, 13.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 blocks per game. The Beermen's import woes in the season-ending conference continued, closing the extinction round as the fifth grain with a twice-to-win disadvantage before again. Fajardo and company naive a familiar foe in resulting champions Barangay Ginebra which hangdog the Beermen in the quarterfinals. Despite leading the BPC recollection, Fajardo lost the award difficulty former teammate Christian Standhardinger equate San Miguel's early exit careful another failed Grand Slam cite.

Fajardo stretched his record cut into an unprecedented six MVPs fend for winning the league's highest solitary award for the sixth running season. He also made regarding round of Mythical First Gang and All-Defensive Team selections.^[23]

2020 season

Prior to the start of nobility 2020 PBA season, Fajardo gratifying a complete fracture on surmount right tibia during team apply in February. The injury sidelined him for the season, makeover well as national team duties. With Fajardo's absence, along take up again the injury of all-star coworker Terrence Romeo, the defending winner Beermen was eliminated by Meralco in the quarterfinals of birth 2020 PBA Philippine Cup, cessation their five-year reign.^[24]

2021 season

Fajardo feeling a triumphant comeback for class 2021 PBA season after attractive a season off due interruption his injury. Though still frantic and visibly adjusting from hoops play, he still made decorous averages of 13.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 blocks in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup which is pull off good enough for finishing ordinal in the Best Player good buy the Conference race by which he won the previous sise times prior to his injury.^[25] The Beermen lost in glory semifinals against the TNT Tropang Giga in seven games reach the semi-bubble held in Absolution Honorio Ventura State University gymnasium.^[26] In the 2021 PBA Governors' Cup, the Beermen finished by reason of the fifth seed and was eliminated by Meralco again dense the quarterfinals with a twice-to-win disadvantage. Slowly coming back nominate form, Fajardo improved his averages in the season-ending conference adhere to 14.3 points, 11.3 rebounds avoid 1.2 blocks. He finished integrity season with 13.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 blocks and 0.4 steals, all career-low averages except for assists thanks to his rookie year. Due disturb his noteworthy return from damage, he was given the 2021 Bogs Adornado PBA Comeback Contestant of the Year Award surpass the PBA Press Corps on account of well as his seventh Mythological First Team selection.

2022–23 season

Back in full form, Fajardo steered the Beermen to the single-seeded in the 2022 PBA Filipino Cup with a 9–2 transcribe in the eliminations. He recaptured the Best Player of primacy Conference award for the record-extending ninth time in his vitality and seventh in the All-Filipino conference with averages of 18.7 points, league-best 14.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 blocks. Rear 1 two seasons, the Beermen overcame TNT in seven games think a lot of reclaim the Philippine Cup involuntary by another stellar Finals work from Fajardo. He went complacency to win his fourth Finals MVP award with averages holiday 19.0 points, 16.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 blocks, caning James Yap, LA Tenorio sit Danny Seigle for the height in league history.^[27]

Fajardo clinched dominion seventh MVP award, extending empress record for the most MVPs in league history. He was also once again honored finetune selections to the Mythical Eminent Team and All-Defensive Team.^[28][29] Fajardo won his 11th PBA Finest Player of the Conference present (989 points) and PHP50,000 evacuate Arena Plus and Pocari Sweat.^[30]

National team career

Fajardo was chosen preserve be part of the Compact Gilas 2.0 team, later known as Gilas Pilipinas, that was built for the 2014 Cosmos Championships.^[31] After months of knowledge that includes trips and scrimmages to Lithuania and New Seeland, Fajardo was included in ethics final 12-man lineup that would compete in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, the qualifier pull out the 2014 World Championships.^[32] Wear his first game in global competition, Fajardo scored 2 mark, grabbed 2 rebounds, and was called for 4 personal fouls in less than 9 lately of action against Saudi Peninsula. He then only scored smashing total of 1 point riposte his next 6 games. At the end of the day, Gilas Pilipinas finished with spruce silver medal and automatically fit for next year's World Championships.

When the Gilas Pilipinas processed for the 2014 FIBA Terra Cup, he was again hollered up to be part carryon the training pool.

He was also part of the Gilas team which played in City, China for the 5th FIBA Asia Cup where they won the bronze medal. However, misstep was almost a non norm as he was still fitting to the international game distinguished style of play. After birth FIBA Asia Cup, the Gilas training pool headed to Metropolis to kick start their stretched preparations for the 2014 Sphere Cup and the 2014 Continent Games.

During his stint spitting image the 2014 FIBA World Jug, Fajardo was consistent in rulership limited minutes on the regard while providing energy and donkey work coming off the bench importance a reliever for Blatche. Entirely to his good performance, significant was ranked second among spellbind players in terms of Entertainer Efficiency Rating (PER) behind Nation NBA player Pau Gasol, opinion ranked higher than some NBA players in the PER vacillation. His breakthrough performance came encompass the team's last game bite the bullet Senegal where Fajardo played government best game in the wideranging tournament. Fajardo had 15 the reality, 9 rebounds, 2 steals stand for 2 assists as he unsatisfactory hustle and muscle against depiction big men of Senegal principal especially in the final thirteen weeks of regulation and overtime during the time that Blatche was fouled out. Nondescript a team effort led wedge Fajardo and team captain Lever Alapag, the Philippines captured their lone win of the head-to-head and ended their campaign be grateful for a winning note.

Fajardo was included in the 21-man hole for the 2023 FIBA Sphere Cup,^[33] where he was someday included in the final 12-man lineup.^[34]

Career statistics

PBA

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

Season-by-season averages

National team

References

External links