June Mar Fajardo has hit clutch shots in the past and the one he made in Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals on Sunday night is up there easily.
The seven-time MVP rarely settles for a three-pointer, yet he needed to take one out of desperation.
And he made it to tie things up at 78-all with 3.3 seconds left to play – much to the surprise of all those inside the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
His heroics, however, would go down the drain as Chris Newsome responded with a tough baseline jumper on the other end.
The Beermen star’s attempt for another triple and potential game-winner only hit the back rim.
Nonetheless, Fajardo said that it was a memorable shot – although it would’ve been better had the second gone in, since it would send the series to a Game 7.
“Ganda sana pero wala, talo eh. Memorable ‘yun para sa akin. Lalo na kung na-shoot ko ‘yung huli,” he told reporters moments after the 80-78 defeat.
Aside from failing to defend the coveted Perpetual trophy, Fajardo absorbed his very first loss in a Philippine Cup Finals.
He won in his previous six including, of course, that unprecedented five-peat from 2015-19.
“Sayang, kasi sa tingin namin kaya namin manalo ng championship, kaya namin ipanalo ‘yung series na ‘to,” offered the Cebuano star, who finished with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists in the Game 6 loss.
Still, he remained gracious in defeat, tipping his hat to the Bolts for winning their first-ever PBA championship after waiting for 14 long years.
“Ganun talaga ang sports. Kailangan nating tanggapin ‘yung pagkatalo natin. Maybe, time naman ng Meralco na mag-champion ngayon, ‘di ba,” he said.
“Palakpakan natin ‘yung dapat palakpakan, i-congratulate natin ‘yung dapat i-congratulate. Masakit man na natalo pero ganun talaga ‘yung buhay. Nanalo kami ilang championships, pero maybe time na rin ng Meralco ngayon,” he added.
“‘Yung talbog ng bola, nandun sa kanila. Baka naka-tadhana sa kanila ‘yung championship na ‘to. Congratulate natin ang ‘yung Meralco.”
