It took 47 days before reigning Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo had a chance to redeem himself after a horrid Game Five in their PBA Season 41-finale against the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
And Fajardo played with fire in his eyes during their Season 42 opener win against the Star Hotshots, 96-88, Sunday evening.
Fajardo, who celebrated his 27th birthday three days before the game, put up a monster performance, scoring 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting to go along with 16 rebounds and four steals. And more importantly, he left the Smart-Araneta Coliseum as a victor once again.
“Siyempre isang buwan din kami naghintay sa first game,” he remarked about his team’s anticipation heading into the game. “Noong first quarter pa lang, sobrang gigil na kami.”
Moreover, the 6-foot-11 big man came up big in the clutch, scoring seven points, including a pivotal turnaround jumper over Ian Sangalang with four minutes remaining that quashed any hopes of a Star comeback.
“Sanay na sila sa ganiyang mga laro,” San Miguel head coach Leo Austria said about the 14 combined fourth quarter points of Fajardo and Alex Cabagnot. “Sa mga semis at championship namin, sila ang bumubuhat sa amin.”
However, “The Kraken” credited his teammates’ composure down the stretch — a sign of the team’s experience and familiarity with one another.
“Pinakita namin yung composure namin sa dulo. Gusto talaga naming manalo eh. Sinunod namin yung game plan namin na hindi makipagsabayan sa takbuhan at i-set yung plays namin,” he shared.
“Pag sumabay kasi kami sa takbuhan, napapagod at maiiwan kami kasi hindi naman ganoon yung laro namin eh.”
Even if it was just one win out of the 10 elimination round games they are scheduled to play this conference, the three-time MVP is relieved that they have won their opener after dropping their opening games during the Commissioners and Governors Cup a season ago.
“May history kami na every first game, natatalo kami. Buti ngayon nanalo kami kaya positive start,” he closed.
And maybe this game was a stern warning to the league that San Miguel are more than ready to defend the crown they have won for two straight years.
