For more than a decade, the PBA has belonged to "The Kraken." He hasn't just dominated the league; he has practically redefined what it means to be a center in Philippine basketball. If you were building a franchise from scratch over the last ten years, June Mar was the first, second, and third choice on everybody’s board.
But if you open up the box scores during this Governors’ Cup, you might find yourself double-checking the name next to the jersey number 15.
The numbers are telling a story we haven't read in a very long time.
The Tale of Two Conferences
According to statistics tracked on RealGM, Fajardo’s production in the current Governors’ Cup looks radically different from what we saw during the Philippine Cup:
Philippine Cup: 18.1 points, 17.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.0 blocks
Governors’ Cup: 8.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.1 blocks
Read those numbers again. His scoring output has dropped by more than half. His rebounding—usually an absolute guarantee night in and night out—has dipped under double digits.
For a guy who used to post a 20-20 stat line as routinely as brushing his teeth, seeing June Mar average 8.4 points per game feels almost surreal. Is Father Time finally knocking on the door, or is there something else going on here?
Conserving Fuel and Anchoring the Defense
Before anyone starts writing the basketball obituary for the eight-time MVP, look closely at where his energy is going.
While his offensive counting stats have plummeted, his rim protection has doubled—jumping from 1.0 block per game to 2.1 blocks. That isn't an accident.
June Mar is smart. He knows his body, and he knows how to survive the grueling PBA calendar. With an elite import taking over the offensive heavy lifting, Fajardo has gracefully shifted his focus to anchored, tactical defense. He is protecting the paint, contesting shots, and saving his legs for when San Miguel truly needs him down the stretch of the postseason.
He isn't broken; he is adapting. But in doing so, he is showing a rare glimpse of mortality on the stat sheet.
San Miguel is Doing Just Fine, Thank You
Here is the beauty of the whole situation for the Beermen: They don't need June Mar to score 20 points right now.
San Miguel is sitting comfortably with a 7-2 record, looking every bit like a championship contender. The primary reason for that luxury is their powerhouse import, George King, who is currently pacing the league as the top scorer.
When you have a scorer like King filling up the net, June Mar can happily take six or seven shots a game, set bone-crushing screens, anchor the defense, and let the rest of the team shine. It’s a winning formula, and at the end of the day, June Mar has always cared far more about wins than his personal stat line.
Is the MVP Door Cracking Open?
While San Miguel is thriving, Fajardo's depreciating numbers create a fascinating side effect for the rest of the league: The MVP window is wider right now than it has been in years.
PBA MVP voters love grand statistical narratives. For years, June Mar won MVPs simply because his traditional box score numbers were so astronomical that it was impossible to give the award to anyone else.
If June Mar finishes this conference averaging around 8 points and 9 rebounds, the door swings wide open for other top local stars to make their case. Whether it’s a dominant guard carrying a heavy load or a rising forward having a career year, the gap between June Mar and the rest of the league’s awards contenders has narrowed significantly.
The Kraken may not be done winning championships, but for the first time in a decade, he is looking a little more human—and the rest of the PBA is officially on notice.
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