AFTER going three consecutive 20-20 games, June Mar Fajardo hasn’t broached double digits in points for the second straight time.
Fajardo was held to nine points in Game 4 of the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup semifinals - low based on how he has been playing in the playoffs. He did grab 20 rebounds, but the nine-time MVP was a cold 3-of-14 from the field.
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The semifinal series is now back to square one as San Miguel lost to Barangay Ginebra, 105-91, to even things up at 2-2.
Fajardo has been bothered by a shoulder injury, and Ginebra coach Tim Cone thought that it had affected him on Sunday.
“June Mar had a tough night. I don’t know if it’s his shoulder or what but he was missing shots that he normally makes,” said Cone.
Fajardo put together 26-23, 27-23, and 21-23 points-rebounds tallies in the first three games of the playoffs -the first local to do so.
In Game 4, however, Fajardo went scoreless in the first three quarters but found a way to finish with six points and 19 rebounds in the Beermen victory.
Fajardo got back to grabbing at least 20 rebounds on Sunday, but was one point short of going double digits in scoring.
According to PBA statistics chief Fidel Mangonon, the last time Fajardo went single digits in consecutive games was in the 2018 Governors’ Cup when, coming back from a shin injury, he had three matches scoring only had six points.
“We will take that, whatever edge we can get,” said Cone.
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