PBA: June Mar Fajardo says Finals MVP win more special with Ramon Fernandez Trophy

Winning the Finals Most Valuable Player plum is already an honor, but claiming it with Ramon Fernandez’s name attached makes it even more special for San Miguel big man June Mar Fajardo.

The PBA Press Corps recently announced that the Finals MVP trophy is now named after Fernandez, one of the league’s greatest players, who won 19 PBA titles and was named PBA MVP four times.

“Isang karangalan. Nakakatuwa isipin na ako ‘yung kauna-unahang makakuha ng MVP trophy na ‘yun na nakapangalan kay Don Ramon Fernandez,” Fajardo said after the Beermen dispatched TNT in Game 6 of the Finals, 92-77.

“Isa siya sa nilo-look up ko so isang karangalan na makuha ‘yung trophy na ‘yun. For sure, isa ‘yun sa highlights ng championship na ‘to. Nasa top ‘yun ng trophy case ko.”

June Mar Fajardo on being the first recipient of the Ramon Fernandez Trophy: 'Isang karangalan na makuha 'yung trophy na 'yun. For sure, isa siya sa highlights ng championship na 'to at nasa taas ng trophy case ko."@gmasportsph@gmanews pic.twitter.com/TIvHCEhhDq

— JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) February 1, 2026

Fajardo and Fernandez had already crossed paths during the former’s younger days, when he was still in Cebu, which is the home province of both players.

Now, Fajardo is also achieving—if not surpassing—Fernandez’s accolades, and he hopes that the two of them can serve as inspirations for their fellow Cebuanos.

“Para ‘to sa mga Cebuano na nangarap makarating sa PBA. Sana makakuha sila ng inspirasyon sa amin kasi galing din akong probinsya, maraming players na galing sa probinsya. Libre mangarap tapos hard work, walang imposible.

“Tiyaga lang, trabaho nang maayos, at seryoso dapat tayo sa trabaho natin.”

Fajardo logged averages of 19.67 points, 18.33 rebounds, 1.67 assists, and 1.0 blocks in the Finals series.

—GMA Integrated News