Metro Manila, Philippines — June Mar Fajardo of the San Miguel Beermen has distanced himself further from the constellation of superstars after winning his eighth PBA Most Valuable Player award.

With his latest achievement, the San Miguel Beermen stalwart downplayed the “greatest of all time” conversation again as he pointed out other legends worthy of the distinction.

“I’m happy to be part of that discussion but I think I’m still far from it. There are a lot who deserve to be called the GOAT in the PBA,” he said, in Filipino, in a press conference on Sunday.

Fajardo cited a PBA icon who should be the top criteria in the GOAT debate.

“Ramon Fernandez has 19 championships, while I only have a few,” the 6-foot-11 Cebuano native, who has 10 titles under his name, said.

Fajardo said he treats every title he wins as his first so he could sustain his quest for greater heights.

“In my mind, I haven’t won any awards, I haven’t won an MVP, Mythical (selection), all my achievements,“ he said.

Fajardo said the individual honors will serve as something he will cherish once he decides to hang his jersey.

“If there are awards that will come, I’d accept them because I won’t be playing forever so while I can still play, I’d gladly collect the awards,” he said.