June Mar Fajardo simply felt relieved with the mere fact that San Miguel got back on track in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup even after doing so in dramatic fashion against the ever-gutsy Rain or Shine on Thursday night.
The eight-time MVP was the hero the Beermen needed to escape the Elasto Painters, sinking the game-winning jumper off a lucky bounce at the buzzer in a thrilling end to what could go down as one of the best games this conference.
“Kailangan namin ‘yung panalo na ‘to eh, kasi ‘pag natalo kami, 2-3, medyo mahirap na ‘yun para sa amin,” he said shortly after the 112-111 victory at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. “Buti, nakuha namin ‘yung panalong ‘to.”
SMB came into Thursday’s affair in the midst of a two-game losing skid after bowing firstly to Barangay Ginebra and then NLEX in Cagayan de Oro.
Those defeats happened after back-to-back wins to start the tournament, and a loss against RoS would have dropped their card to 2-3 — similar to Blackwater’s, although the Bossing have posted their wins in consecutive fashion.
(C) PBA Images
Had they lost, there’s also a possibility of San Miguel dropping out of the Top Four picture in Group B, especially if Blackwater, hypothetically, beat the skidding Road Warriors when they lock horns this Friday.
Well, the Beermen almost lost to the Elasto Painters, with Felix Lemetti proving to be the biggest thorn on their side when the rookie guard nailed four consecutive free throws for the 112-111 with three seconds left to play.
But then, there was Fajardo, who caught CJ Perez’s pass and sank the jumper as time expired — and added yet another highlight to his lore.
That shot not only saved San Miguel, but it preserved his record night as well. The 6-foot-10 Cebuano star has surpassed the great Philip Cezar (5,834) at seventh in the PBA’s all-time most career rebounds list.
He has also tied former Beermen cornerstone Danny Seigle (2,096) for 10th all-time in career free throws made, per league stats chief Fidel Mangonon III.
“Wala na, kailangan na itira eh,” Fajardo said of his game-winner.
“Dying seconds na. Buti nakuha namin ‘yung panalo.”
