For the first time in his six-year career, June Mar Fajardo lost in a game in which he was crowned as the Best Player of the Conference.
The gentle giant from Cebu thanked his San Miguel Beermen family for the support they have given him, as he was crowned the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup’s Best Player of the Conference on Friday night at SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The reigning Most Valuable Player now has a total of seven BPC awards in his collection. Fajardo also won his second straight BPC award this season, which means that he has virtually secured his fifth MVP hardware.
“Blessed ako and thankful ako na nanalo ako ng BPC. Thankful ako kay God, thankful ako sa teammates ko, sa coaching staff, credit ko sa kanila yun kasi ‘di ko naman yun magagawa kung ‘di dahil sa kanila,” said the 28-year-old.
But Fajardo finds it hard to celebrate.
He and the Beermen had been humiliated anew in Game Four of the title match, as they absorbed a 100-130 decimation at the hands of the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. The Gin Kings have now sent the best-of-seven series to 2-2.
According to the league’s chief statistician Fidel Mangonon, this is the first time in six PBA Finals that the Beermen have lost after the 6-foot-10 slotman from Cebu have been honored with the BPC award.
“Malungkot, talo kami,” rued Fajardo, who had 15 points and 14 rebounds.
“Kung nanalo sana kami, masaya.”
The series has now boiled down to a virtual best-of-three. And for Fajardo, he and the Grand Slam-seeking Beermen have nothing else to do but pick themselves up and bounce back in Game Five on Sunday, August 5.
“Kailangan naming manalo next game kasi mahirap na, best-of-three na lang yung series,” shared Fajardo.
“Kailangan talaga pagsikapan kunin yun, kasi ‘di nila ibibigay samin yun. Lesson learned… Bounce back next game.”
