June Mar Fajardo showed yet again why he is the PBA’s reigning five-time Most Valuable Player, Sunday evening.
The 6-foot-10 slotman exploded for 40 points – missing only once in the 15 shots he took from the field – and collared 19 rebounds to lead his San Miguel Beermen to a 113-107 triumph over the NorthPort Batang Pier.
Fajardo dropped 14 of his scoring output in the final quarter, where the Beermen staved off the Batang Pier when the latter came back from 15 points down in the third quarter and closed within two, 103-105, with 2:29 to go.
But as impressive as his performance was, Fajardo still tipped his hat to his teammates for helping him do well.
“Napaganda lang ‘yung nilaro namin. Credit sa mga teammates ko. Buti naipasok ko ‘yung mga tira,” said the 29-year-old Cebuano.
“Hinahanap din nila ako sa opensa eh. Kailangan kong suklian ‘yung tiwala nila sa’kin.”
San Miguel head coach Leo Austria lauded Fajardo’s efforts in the win that marked their fourth straight. For the former Perpetual Coach of the Year awardee, his center’s fruitful Gilas Pilipinas stint had truly been beneficial.
“Wala kaming masabi sa kanya. His stint with Gilas helped him a lot. He lost some weight, very agile siya,” the decorated Austria said.
“I think we will advise him not to gain any more weight.”
To which Fajardo responded with a wide grin: “Dati nga wala na ‘ko kinakain, tapos ngayon magbabawas pa’ko ng kain ulit. Babawiin ni God yung blessing na binigay niya sa’kin, ‘di ba?
“Kung ano pwede kainin, kakainin ko.”
Fajardo and the Beermen have all the right to smile right now. Sunday’s win has virtually sealed their spot in the 2019 Philippine Cup playoffs, and their last two games will only help them have a better seeding should they win.
And hopefully, Fajardo gets to have his cake and eat it, too.
