MVP June Mar Fajardo leads PBA Season 43 Leo awardees

The PBA recognized some of the best players from its 43rd season in their Leo Awards, prior to the opening of the 2019 season on Sunday, January 13 at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

June Mar Fajardo of the San Miguel Beermen made history for bagging his fifth straight MVP title, the most number of MVP awards captured by a PBA player.

Fajardo also made it to the First Mythical Team and All-Defensive team. His closest rival for the MVP plum, NorthPort's Stanley Pringle, is also included in the mythical team.

Phoenix rookie Jason Perkins bagged the Rookie of the Year award, besting fellow Green Archer Jeron Teng, and other notable newcomers such as SMB's Christian Standhardinger and NLEX's Kiefer Ravena.

Here is the full list of awardees:

Most Valuable Player: June Mar Fajardo (San Miguel Beermen)
Rookie of the Year: Jason Perkins (Phoenix)   
Sportsmanship award: Gabe Norwood (Rain or Shine)
Most Improved Player: Scottie Thompson (Barangay Ginebra)

All-Defensive team:

Gabe Norwood (Rain or Shine)
Rafi Reavis (Magnolia)
June Mar Fajardo (SMB)
Rome dela Rosa (Magnolia)
Chris Ross (SMB)

Second Mythical Team:

Scottie Thompson
Mark Barroca
Arwind Santos
JP Erram 
Matthew Wright

First Mythical Team:

Stanley Pringle (NorthPort)
Paul Lee (Magnolia)
June Mar Fajardo (SMB)
Japeth Aguilar (Ginebra)
Marcio Lassiter (SMB)

The PBA will open its 2019 season with TNT KaTropa facing Barangay Ginebra. — LA, GMA News