DESPITE June Mar Fajardo coming through for 38 big points, Raymond Almazan felt a sense of gratification following Meralco’s 92-88 win over San Miguel that moved the Bolts within arm’s reach of bagging its first PBA championship.
Almazan yet again took on the daunting task of guarding the 6-foot-10 Fajardo, who almost singlehandedly carried the defending champions on his broad shoulders.
But the 6-foot-8 big man said he’ll take the all-important win over the huge offensive game by the seven-time MVP, who grabbed 18 rebounds as well while shooting 14-of-17 from the floor.
“Ite-trade ko sa panalo yun. Iiskor siya ng 60, basta makuha namin yung panalo di ba,” said Almazan Friday night after Game 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ: 'Missing' Maliksi takes it upon himself to step up in Game 5
Meralco's rim protector had his share of offense, too, finishing with 14 points and four rebounds, including 10 in the first half where he carried the load along with Allein Maliksi.
Leash the 'Kraken?'
Still, the first and foremost thing on Almazan's mind was to make sure the Best Player of the - All-Filipino - Conference had to work for whatever he got.
“We played good defense. Alam mo mo naman, ang bigat ni June Mar. 260 lbs yata si June Mar, nasa 220 lang ako ngayon,” said the center out of Letran. “Basta I’m trying my best to stop, at least limit, him. Limit na nga yata yun e? 38 (points)."
Yes, Fajardo almost breached the 40-point marker, but Almazan said the Bolts will take whatever it can get in defending the 'Kraken.'
“Ang hirap stop-in ni June Mar. Sobra,” he said.
“Siguro, yung pinaka off-night niya, yung 12 points, 15 rebounds niya. Off night pa yun, a!” added the Meralco veteran, referring to Fajardo’s Game 3 performance in a 93-89 loss.
Almazan is keeping his fingers crossed that the Bolts will finally be able to wrap up the series on Sunday when Game 6 is played also at the Big Dome.
“Sa Sunday talaga, dito mo malalaman kung kaya naming mag-champion or whatsoever,” he said, as Meralco holds a 3-2 series lead in the finals for the first time ever.
“Pero hindi namin iniisip na up kami ngayon. Basta gusto lang namin trabahuhin namin ito this Sunday.”
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