San Miguel will miss June Mar Fajardo for a while.
Head coach Leo Austria disclosed that the six-time PBA MVP will be out for four weeks after undergoing throat surgery recently, indeed a tough blow for a Beermen side that’s about to enter a tough stretch in the Commissioner’s Cup.
The 6-foot-10 center had to go under the knife after receiving an accidental elbow from import Steve Taylor Jr. during their 113-105 victory over Rain or Shine last October 9 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
“Earlier lang siya na-discharge sa hospital,” the champion mentor said Sunday after his side absorbed its second loss of the conference following a humiliating 113-87 beatdown at the hands of Bay Area at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
SMB did not have its main man against the Dragons and Austria wasn’t shy to admit how huge his absence was, especially against a crew that featured a much taller frontline that had Andrew Nicholson and Liu Chuanxing.
The former NBA cager finished with 39 points and 12 rebounds, while the 7-foot-5 Chinese center chipped in a double-double of his own with 12 markers and 10 boards to help Bay Area collect its fifth win in six outings.
“I think we’re overpowered by their big man and we have nobody to match up their import and even their 7’5 [center], which is nagkaroon ng magandang impact,” said Austria, whose squad fell behind by as much as 30 in the loss.
It’s too unfortunate that it will be the same case in their next assignments. The Beermen will continue to miss Fajardo at least five games, according to Austria, which includes a four-game stretch in a span of nine days.
San Miguel will take on Converge on October 21, followed by meetings with NLEX (October 23), NorthPort (October 26), and Meralco (October) 29. It will then lock horns with Barangay Ginebra after the break (November 6).
“It is a tough assignment for us,” said Austria.
And so, the challenge is now on for the reigning conference champions to step up without the Cebuano star, who averaged 22.0 points and 12.0 rebounds in the two games he’s played thus far in the mid-season joust.
“Talagang we’re not used to playing without June Mar,” Austria admitted. “After winning Best Player of the Conference, kitang-kita niyo naman, very evident ‘yung laro niya. He is a different June Mar. He could be a candidate again for the MVP, but all of a sudden, accident during the game. Mawawala siya for four weeks. I think he will miss at least five games. We don’t know But come playoff time, I think he will be available.”
“So, the challenge for us is to get into the playoffs.”
