June Mar Fajardo to auction off first MVP trophy for Cebu relief efforts

June Mar Fajardo notched his first career triple-double on Wednesday, Nov. 12, after dishing out 10 assists in San Miguel’s masterful 158-117 demolition of Titan Ultra.

But the biggest – and perhaps, the more relevant — assist from the 6-foot-10 gentle giant came beforehand when he decided to auction off his first Most Valuable Player award to help in the relief efforts for the victims of Typhoon Tino in his hometown Cebu.

The trophy, along with other game worn shoes and jerseys from other PBA players, will be available for bids in the auction organized by the Alagang Kapatid Foundation of the TV5 on Friday, Nov. 14.

Although Fajardo admitted that the trophy was hard to let go, given its sentimental value and history, the nine-time MVP, who hails from Pinamungahan, Cebu, care and love for his fellow Cebuanos simply outweighed the value of his first MVP award.

“Syempre (mahirap i-let go). Pero nung tinanong nga ako kung ano ipapa auction ko, iyan ‘yung naisip ko kasi yung trophy na yun special yun sa akin kasi years of hardwork ko iyon eh, sakripisyo” said Fajardo.

“Nandoon yung failures then after naging successful ako ng season na iyon nakuha ko yung MVP. Pero special din yung mga Cebuano para sa akin,” he added.

The SMB star is hoping that the trophy will be sold at a high price since all of the proceeds will go for the relief efforts in Cebu City which was wiped out by the flash flood brought by the Typhoon.

The calamity also came at a time when the province is still feeling the effects of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that jolted Northern Cebu last month.

“Sana maganda yung maging price nun kasi isa yun sa mga koleksyon ko. Nahirapan nga ako (ilet-go) sana maging maganda yung price non,” said Fajardo.

“I mean yung makakakuha naman ng trophy na iyon hindi lang naman sya makakakuha ng trophy eh makakuha siya ng parte sa buhay ko. Isa pa non, nakakatulong sya sa mga tao sa Cebu. Hindi lang basta basta na trophy yon,” he stressed. — Reynald I. Magallon