JUNE Mar Fajardo bounced back the only way he knew how.
The San Miguel big man dropped 20 points and 21 rebounds as the Beermen cruised past the NLEX Road Warriors, 120-103, for their ninth straight win and the top seed in the PBA Philippine Cup Sunday night at the Philsports Arena.
June Mar's 20-20 game
Fajardo’s 20-20 stat line came just two days after being held to single-digit outputs in both points and rebounds during the team’s 98-91 win over the Magnolia Hotshots
With James Laput, Abu Tratter, and for a while Ian Sangalang, alternating in guarding him at the post, the seven-time MVP was limited to just nine points and seven rebounds, though he also issued seven assists.
But the 6-foot-10 Fajardo negated insinuations the performance was his way of getting back from that unimposing showing against the Hotshots.
“Nagkataon lang siguro na sa akin bumabagsak yung bola. Hinahanap ako ng teammates ko at sa akin nila binibigay yung bola,” said Fajardo.
“Team effort yun. And lagi naman kaming nire-remind ni coach na kailangan naming laruin yung San Miguel basketball, kaya yung ang ginagawa namin.”
Fajardo’s 20-20 game is his first since hitting 27 points and grabbing 27 rebounds in Game 3 of last season’s Philippine Cup finals against TNT.
The 34-year-old Fajardo though is looking beyond the numbers as defending and retaining the all-Filipino championship is the team’s ultimate goal.
“Gusto naming manalo, gusto naming makuha yung no. 1 spot kasi yung naman ang goal namin bago pa nag-start yung conference,” he said. “And then nakuha na namin yun, so ang challenge ngayon is how to stay on top.”
San Miguel will have its last two games in this final week of the eliminations against Blackwater on Wednesday at the Philsports Arena and Meralcon on Saturday at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
