JUNE Mar Fajardo, the “Kraken”, is back as PBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the seventh time.

Fajardo, the 6-10 superstar from San Miguel Beer, underscored his billing as the country’s leading player by winning the league’s most coveted individual award during the PBA Season 47 Leo Awards Ceremony held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

It was the seventh PBA MVP award for the 33-year-old pride of Compostela, Cebu — the most by any player in league history.

With seven MVP awards, Fajardo now has three more trophies than the two PBA legends tied for second place — Ramon “El Presidente” Fernandez and Alvin “The Captain” Patrimonio.

In the two conferences that San Miguel Beer made it to the semifinals, Fajardo led the statistical points race with 40.2 SPs, thanks to per-game averages of 17.7 points, 13.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.3 blocks.

A mainstay of the Gilas Pilipinas team which played in both the FIBA World Cup 2023 in Manila and Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Fajardo outperformed Season 46 MVP Scottie Thompson and Christian Standhardinger, both of Baarangay Ginebra, and San Miguel teammate CJ Perez to win the award.

Fajardo garnered 1,244 (statistical points), 152 (players votes ), 852 (media votes) for a total of 2,248 votes.

Standhardinger and Thompson finished second and third with 1,559 and 1,539, respectively.

Perez came in a far fourth with 1,177 votes.

Actually, Fajardo captured the coveted MVP award for six straight seasons before Thompson broke his streak in 2021.

No award was given during the pandemic-hit 2020 season, which was limited to a single bubble conference in Pampanga and which Fajardo sat out with a leg fracture.

Fajardo, Thompson, Perez, Standhardinger and Jamie Malonzo have been named to the PBA First Mythical Team.

Robert Bolick, Mikey Williams, Calvin Oftana, Arvin Tolentino and Calvin Abueva were voted in the Second Mythical team.

In the All-Defensive team are Standhardinger, Fajardo, Cliff Hodge, Jio Jalalon and Chris Newsome.

Justin Arana of Converge was named the Rookie of the Year, while Maverick Ahanmisi of Barangay Ginebra was voted as Most Improved Player.

The Samboy Lim Sportsmanship Award went to Kevin Alas of NLEX.