PBA Most Valuable Player award explained

The Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player (MVP) is an annual Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) award given since the start of the league in 1975 to the best performing player of the season. The award is decided using criteria introduced since the 2011–12 season, which include accumulated statistical points, votes from media, players and the league's Commissioner's Office. The current holder of the award is June Mar Fajardo.

The season MVP is for the whole season, which has two to three conferences, including the regular season, the playoffs and the Finals, while there is a Best Player of the Conference award for each conference, and a Best Import award for conferences where imports are allowed to play.

June Mar Fajardo won the MVP award a record eight times, while both Ramon Fernandez and Alvin Patrimonio won the award four times. Benjie Paras remains the only rookie to have ever won the award to date, which he did during the season.

As with the other annual awards given by the league, the winner receives The Leo Trophy, which is named in honor of Leo Prieto, the first commissioner of the PBA who served from 1975 until his retirement in 1983.

Criteria

The criteria used since the 2022–23 PBA season are as follows:[1]

Statistical points (SP) are computed as follows:

In addition, a Filipino player can only be eligible for awards if he played in at least 70% of his team's games.

MVP voting begins at the start of the Finals series of the last conference. All statistical points gathered from all levels of competition (elimination/classification round and playoffs) are included.

Previous criteria

The winner was selected by the following format (before 2006):

With controversies with the selections, a new format was created starting at the 2006–07 season:

The criteria used since from the 2011–12 PBA season until the 2021 PBA season are as follows:[2]

Winners

^Denotes player who is still active in the PBA
Inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame
Player (X)Denotes the number of times the player has been named MVP
Team (X)Denotes the number of times a player from this team has won
SeasonPlayerPositionCountry of birthTeamRef.
ForwardCrispa Redmanizers
  • (2)
ForwardCrispa Redmanizers (2)
ForwardCrispa Redmanizers (3)
GuardToyota Super Corollas
GuardCrispa Redmanizers (4)
CenterCrispa Redmanizers (5)
  • (3)
ForwardU/Tex Wranglers
CenterToyota Super Corollas (2)
CenterCrispa Redmanizers (6)
  • (2)
CenterBeer Hausen Brewmasters
GuardGreat Taste Coffee Makers
  • (3)
CenterTanduay Rhum Makers
  • (2)
CenterSan Miguel Beermen
  • (4)
CenterSan Miguel Beermen (2)
CenterFormula Shell Zoom Masters
GuardPresto Tivolis
ForwardPurefoods TJ Hotdogs
GuardSan Miguel Beermen (3)
  • (2)
ForwardPurefoods TJ Hotdogs (2)
  • (3)
ForwardPurefoods TJ Hotdogs (3)
Forward
Guard
  • (4)
ForwardPurefoods Carne Norte Beefies (4)
ForwardAlaska Milkmen (2)
  • (2)
CenterFormula Shell Zoom Masters (2)
CenterSan Miguel Beermen (4)
(2)CenterSan Miguel Beermen (5)
GuardRed Bull Barako
CenterTalk 'N Text Phone Pals
CenterBarangay Ginebra Kings
^ForwardPurefoods Chunkee Giants (5)
(2)GuardAlaska Aces (3)
^ForwardSta. Lucia Realtors
GuardBarangay Ginebra Kings (2)
^ (2)ForwardDerby Ace Llamados (6)
GuardTalk 'N Text Tropang Texters (2)
GuardBarangay Ginebra Kings (3)
ForwardPetron Blaze Boosters (6)
^ CenterSan Miguel Beermen (7)
^ (2)CenterSan Miguel Beermen (8)
^ (3)CenterSan Miguel Beermen (9)
^ (4)CenterSan Miguel Beermen (10)
^ (5)CenterSan Miguel Beermen (11)
^ (6)CenterSan Miguel Beermen (12)
not awarded
^GuardBarangay Ginebra San Miguel (4)
^ (7)CenterSan Miguel Beermen (13)[3]
^ (8)CenterSan Miguel Beermen (14)[4]

Multiple-time winners

Total Player
8 June Mar Fajardo
4 Ramon Fernandez
Alvin Patrimonio
3
2
Danny Ildefonso
Willie Miller
Benjie Paras
James Yap

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Commissioner's Office no longer counts in PBA awards voting .
  2. News: Richard . Dy . After 'Best Player' upset, is June Mar Fajardo at risk of losing MVP honor as well? . Spin.ph . July 5, 2014 . July 18, 2014.
  3. Web site: Fajardo leads list of winners in PBA Leo Awards. PBA.ph. November 5, 2023. November 6, 2023.
  4. Web site: Legend lives on as Fajardo wins record 8th MVP award. PBA.ph. August 18, 2024. August 18, 2024.