TIM Cone admitted Barangay Ginebra was fortunate to beat San Miguel Beer despite June Mar Fajardo dropping monster numbers in Game One of their PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series on Sunday night.
The champion coach was once more left amazed as the nine-time MVP carried the Beermen on his broad shoulders behind his 27 points and 23 rebounds in 40 solid minutes of play.
READ Ginebra rides hot shooting of Torres, Cu to Game One win over SMB
Good thing, the Kings were able to pull off a 99-90 win before a huge crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum for a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
“We’re just happy we’re able to pull off this one despite June Mar having a big game,” said Cone following the Game One win. “Credit to June Mar, that’s how good he is, that’s how good he’s been.”
Despite the dominant figures, Fajardo had his struggles from the foul line, where he shot just 5-of-12 for 47 percent.
The double team made by Japeth Aguilar and Norbert Torres somehow took its toll on him, according to Cone.
“We obviously played a tag team on him with Japeth and Norbert,” said Cone. “They did the best that they could.”
Taking on the 6-foot-10 Fajardo also left both Aguilar and Torres in foul trouble.
“It’s physically daunting to guard a guy that big and that strong,” said Cone. “Both our guys are exhausted just guarding the single guy.”
In the end, Cone raved about how just great a player Fajardo is.
“He’s just that kind of player. Wow. He played the whole fourth quarter too, the whole 12 minutes of the fourth quarter,” said the Ginebra coach. “So amazing man.”
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