June Mar Fajardo continues to brave a risky calf injury simply to lead by example for San Miguel in the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.
The league’s only eight-time MVP was thrust back into the starting lineup for Game 4 of their best-of-7 series against Barangay Ginebra on Wednesday, which the Beermen eventually won to tie things up at two games apiece.
And the decision to plug him into the opening five for the first time since Game 1, exactly a week ago, came from none other than the star center himself.
All because he wanted to help the Beermen bounce back after falling flat on their faces the last time out, according to head coach Leo Austria.
“Every game naman I always ask him: ‘Anong feeling mo, mag-start ka na o hindi pa?’” he said after their 107-82 win at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“And then because of the frustrating game namin nung Game 3, so he made his mind na, ‘OK, kailangan ko mag-start,’” added the champion mentor.
(C) PBA Images
Fajardo showed how much he wanted to get back on track and foil the Kings’ bid to build a 3-1 lead. He finished with another solid double-double of 12 points and 19 rebounds, together with three assists, two steals, and a block.
His minutes increased as well. After logging 27 minutes back in Game 3, the Cebuano star played for 31 minutes and 50 seconds this time.
There’s no denying how dangerous it could get, considering that Fajardo had already admitted that an ultrasound found a minor tear in his injured calf following an ultrasound last Thursday, and San Miguel is well aware of that.
But the multiple-time PBA Coach of the Year awardee feels confident that the 35-year-old is fine based on the way he has been asserting himself.
“By saying that, I’m confident na he’s feeling well,” Austria expressed. “And makikita naman natin kanina eh, ibang-iba ‘yung laro niya.
“Focused siya sa game, unlike before na gusto niya manalo, but there are things na beyond our control; nakaka-frustrate,” he added.
#WATCH: Coach Leo Austria beams with pride as June Mar Fajardo and the Beermen matched Ginebra’s energy to tie the #PBA2025 semis series 🏀#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/dKP13JXuwu
📹 Justine Bacnis/Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/nu3zHvlc0m
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) July 2, 2025
