June Mar Fajardo is not questioning the coaches’ decision to take him out during a moment so crucial in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals opener between San Miguel and the top-seeded Bay Area, Wednesday.
The league’s only six-time MVP offered that it was a ploy for the Beermen to get quicker, although it backfired as the Dragons won, 103-102.
“Desisyon ni Coach [Jorge Gallent] ‘yun kasi kailangan na namin na maging mabilis doon sa loob. Nagkataon lang talaga na ganoon yung nangyari,” he said moments after the tight encounter at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Fajardo checked out of the match after Bay Area’s timeout with 37.5 seconds left. Winger Jericho Cruz came in to join import Devon Scott, CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter, and Simon Enciso on the floor.
It was a notable substitution, given that the 6-foot-10 Cebuano actually gave SMB the 102-99 lead with 46.1 seconds to go through a cleanup.
And without the Beermen’s defensive anchor, the Dragons capitalized. Hayden Blankley cut the deficit to one with just a layup.
Then came Kobey Lam, ending the break with a layup with 7.1 seconds for the go-ahead bucket – and to make the opposition pay dearly for the possession prior that saw Cruz overcook a three-pointer from the corner.
(C) PBA Images
Fajardo returned as San Miguel tried to go for the win, but it was too little, too late. He tried to establish position on the left post, but the inbound went to Scott, who attacked yet settled for a fadeaway and missed.
Time expired and Bay Area went on to complete the comeback from 16 down. More importantly, they took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-5 affair.
SMB was still without head coach Leo Austria, leaving the mentoring duties yet again to his assistants, led by lead deputy Jorge Gallent.
Fajardo, who finished with 11 points and eight rebounds, refuses to dwell on the loss and simply has his sights set on Friday for Game Two.
“Breaks of the game. Good thing best-of-five, so may time kami makapag-adjust,” said the 33-year-old Cebuano.
“Kailangan namin panoorin ‘yung game tapos adjustment na lang sa next game.”
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The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
