CAN’T win ‘em all.
That’s how exactly June Mar Fajardo would put it after San Miguel became the first casualty in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs – falling to Rain or Shine, 113-104, on Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The gentle giant from Cebu could only tip his hat to an on-the-rise Elasto Painters side that played splendid basketball from tip-off to final buzzer – noting how the team truly deserved to get a semifinals spot with the way they played this conference.
READ: Caracut sends BelDrei fans swooning, helps ROS oust San Miguel
For Fajardo, the focus now is getting rest and preparing for the season-closing Governors’ Cup.
“Wala talaga. Congratulations sa Rain or Shine, ang ganda ng conference nila. Kami naman, talo. Gustuhin man namin manalo pero ganun talaga yung basketball e,” Fajardo said after finishing with 12 points, 12 rebounds, two steals and two blocks in the loss.
“Hindi naman natin makukuha lahat ng panalo. Kunin na lang namin yung third conference, two out of three not bad na 'yun. Bounce back na lang kami next conference, he added.
Fajardo admitted that the Beermen’s failure to secure a steady import early on played a role in how their conference turned out.
While they managed to secure the services of old reliable Bennie Boatwright late and even got three straight wins to close out the eliminations, San Miguel’s early struggles were too much to overcome as it ended up in sixth place, needing to win twice against a dangerous Rain or Shine side.
With Boatwright not eligible next conference due to the 6’6 height limit, the Beermen have to avoid going through the same issues if they want to be in a better position early on in the Governors’ Cup.
“Siguro, parang nakaka-apekto rin 'yan sa chemistry namin kasi nga papalit palit ng import, pero ganun talaga di maiiwasan yun,” he said. “Nakakalungkot man, pero ganun talaga. Pahinga na lang muna kami at bawi nalang.”
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