AFTER winning a horde individual and team awards, June Mar Fajardo is now setting his sights on a grand sam for San Miguel.
Fajardo revealed his ultimate goal of his shortly after Game 6 of the PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup Finals, which San Miguel beat TNT, 107-96, to end the Tropang 5G’s quest for a rare season sweep.
The eight-time MVP hopes that someday, he could also capture perhaps the only PBA achievement that has eluded him.
READ SMB reclaims PBA Philippine Cup title, denies TNT a grand slam
The 11-time champion said he shares that goal with Chris Ross, the skipper of the Beermen, as he recalled a conversation they had in the locker room after the title-clinching win in Game 6 at the Philsports Arena.
“Sabi ko nga kay Chris, hindi na kami bumabata,” said the 35-year-old Fajardo, who also owns 12th Best Player of the Conference awards, four Finals MVPs, and nine Mythical First Team citations.
“As much as possible, kapag nakakuha kami ng opportunity na ganito, iga-grab namin. Alam naman namin na hindi ganun kadaling makakuha ng championship. Pero capable naman kami. Basta healthy lang kami.
“’Yung grand slam, siyempre, ‘yun ang pinaka-goal namin. Nakasulat nga ‘yun sa salamin doon sa kuwarto ko: Win a grand slam. Pag nagpu-push up ako, ‘yun ‘yung tinitignan ko. ‘Yun ‘yung isa sa motivation ko,” said Fajardo.
Ross, also an 11-time champion, echoed Fajardo's words.
“Eleven championships, we have a few more to go. Me and June Mar talked about it a while back. We have a goal. Goal number… I won’t tell you, guys,” said Ross. “I still have a few more to go.”
But even with San Miguel’s talent, Fajardo admitted achieving a grand slam won’t be easy as shown by TNT’s failed bid this season and even SMB’s own unsuccessful quest at a season treble during the 2016-17 and 2019 seasons.
“Alam ko naman na mahirap makakuha ng grand slam. Hindi porket sinasabi natin na gusto natin mag-grand slam, makukuha natin agad. Kailangan natin pagtrabahuan. Sabi ko sa inyo, hindi naman kami bumabata. Pero gagawin namin lahat, ibibigay namin ang best namin hangga’t may ibibigay pa kami,” said Fajardo.
Fajardo said a grand slam, if ever, will be the greatest achievement of his career.
“Pag nakakuha na kami ng grand slam, ‘yun ang pinaka the best. ‘Yun ang pinakamahirap kunin eh,” said Fajardo.
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