JUNE Mar Fajardo had a rare show of emotion in the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup finals.
In Game Three of the finals between San Miguel and TNT, the nine-time MVP was seen staring down Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser briefly before responding with a slight nudge.
In videos of the incident, Fajardo looked angered following a slight push by Ganuelas-Rosser, prompting him to react.
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Fajardo played down the incident that became a discussion online when asked about it after Game Five, saying that the physicality is normal in a finals series.
“Okay lang ‘yun,” Fajardo said.
“Expected ‘yun (physicality) kasi nasa finals tayo. Gusto nila manalo, gusto rin naming manalo. Siyempre, mainit ‘yung laban, ‘yung physicality nandoon. Expected ‘yun," he added.
“Basta tinatry ko ‘yung best na kontrolin ‘yung emosyon ko. Kaya ko naman kung ano ‘yung ginagawa nila. Kaya rin namin. Hindi siya worth it.”
Fajardo admitted that there were also times that he also gets affected with the physicality, but makes it a point to stay focused in the game and in their goal of winning a championship.
“Siyempre nakakapikon din pero tinatry ko i-avoid ‘yun kasi gusto ko mag-focus sa game. Gusto naming manalo. Gusto naming mag-champion," Fajardo said.
"‘Yun ang goal namin. Hindi kami papadala sa init. Minsan dami ngang technical both teams. Expected ‘yun,” he added.
Fajardo is naturally the focal point of the opponent’s defense with his strength and skills inside the paint. The usually mild-mannered Fajardo said he always keeps it in mind not to retaliate in the physical encounters with his opponents.
“Gusto ko ‘yung kinokontrol ko ‘yung emosyon ko. Ayoko ‘yung emosyon ang magkokontrol sa akin. Pag kasi ‘yung physicality, ‘yung tulak tulak, paglalabanan mo ‘yung tulak, baka kung ano pa mangyari. Lalo lang iinit,” said Fajardo.
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