Who Won the 2017 PBA MVP Award and How Did They Achieve It?

I still remember the buzz surrounding the 2017 PBA season like it was yesterday. As someone who's followed Philippine basketball for over a decade, I've witnessed numerous MVP races, but the 2017 showdown between June Mar Fajardo and Stanley Pringle was particularly special. Let me take you back to that remarkable season and explain why Fajardo's achievement wasn't just another trophy on his shelf - it was a testament to his dominance in a league that was rapidly evolving.

The numbers alone tell an impressive story. Fajardo averaged 18.3 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game that season while shooting an incredible 58% from the field. But what made his performance truly MVP-worthy was how he carried the San Miguel Beermen through crucial moments. I recall watching their playoff run thinking, "This man is simply unstoppable." His footwork in the post had improved dramatically from previous seasons, and his defensive presence completely altered opponents' offensive schemes. What many casual fans might not realize is that Fajardo played through a nagging knee injury during the second half of the season, yet still managed to put up All-Star caliber numbers night after night.

Meanwhile, Stanley Pringle was having what I consider his breakout season with GlobalPort. The guy was electric - averaging 21.7 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 38% from three-point territory. His speed in transition was something we hadn't seen in the PBA for years. I remember thinking during their head-to-head matchups how fascinating the contrast was between Pringle's explosive perimeter game and Fajardo's methodical dominance in the paint. Both players deserved recognition, but ultimately, the voters leaned toward Fajardo's consistency and championship impact.

The voting breakdown was closer than many expected, with Fajardo receiving 2,345 points to Pringle's 2,098 in the final tally. Honestly, I thought it would be even tighter given how spectacular Pringle's season was. But here's what tipped the scales in Fajardo's favor - his team success. San Miguel finished with a 25-13 record and made a deep playoff run, while GlobalPort struggled to find consistency despite Pringle's individual brilliance. In my view, team success should absolutely factor into MVP considerations, and that's exactly what happened here.

What fascinates me most about Fajardo's 2017 campaign was how he adapted his game. Earlier in his career, he relied heavily on his size advantage, but by 2017, he'd developed a sophisticated offensive repertoire that included a reliable mid-range jumper and better passing out of double teams. I remember specifically analyzing his assist numbers jumping from 1.2 to 2.4 per game - a significant improvement that reflected his growing basketball IQ. He wasn't just bigger than everyone else anymore; he was genuinely smarter and more skilled.

The context of that season matters too. The league was witnessing what I'd call a "changing of the guard" with younger players beginning to challenge established stars. The good news is that, of course, the proud program from Mendiola is stepping up its game, too, creating more competitive balance across the league. This made Fajardo's dominance even more impressive because he was facing hungrier, more athletic opponents every night. Teams were specifically designing defensive schemes to stop him, yet he still managed to produce at an elite level.

Looking back, I believe Fajardo's 2017 MVP season represented the peak of his physical powers. At 27 years old, he had the perfect blend of experience and athleticism. His footwork in the post was absolutely sublime - I've never seen a big man in the PBA with such delicate touch around the basket combined with overwhelming physical presence. Defenders knew what was coming, yet remained powerless to stop it. That season, he recorded 18 games with at least 20 points and 15 rebounds, a staggering number in today's pace-and-space era.

The legacy of that MVP race extends beyond the individual award. It symbolized a shift in how we evaluate big men in Philippine basketball. Fajardo proved that traditional centers could still dominate in a league increasingly fascinated with perimeter play. His success that season inspired a generation of young Filipino big men to focus on developing fundamental skills rather than just trying to shoot threes. Personally, I've always appreciated players who excel at the basics, and Fajardo was the ultimate embodiment of that philosophy.

As I reflect on that 2017 season years later, what stands out isn't just the statistics or the award ceremony, but how Fajardo elevated his game when it mattered most. His performance in clutch situations, his leadership on a veteran-laden team, and his ability to consistently deliver despite being the focal point of every opponent's game plan - these intangible qualities ultimately separated him from other contenders. While Pringle had a spectacular season worthy of recognition, Fajardo's body of work represented the complete package that MVP voters traditionally reward. That fourth MVP trophy cemented his status as one of the greatest players in PBA history, and honestly, I don't think we'll see another big man dominate the league in quite the same way for a very long time.