Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times
2018 pba philippine cup finals game 1 – magnolia def san miguel – june mar fajardo
2018 pba philippine cup finals game 1 – magnolia def san miguel – june mar fajardo

Basketball

June Mar Fajardo rues error-plagued Game One outing: ‘Masyado akong nanggigil’


It wasn’t the kind of triple-double June Mar Fajardo had wanted

The reigning, four-time Most Valuable Player had 31 points and 18 rebounds for the San Miguel Beermen in Game One of the 2018 Philippine Cup Finals, but his numbers were negated by the 11 turnovers he committed.

A win would’ve been a perfect consolation for the error-plagued Fajardo, but that wasn’t granted by the basketball gods, as he and the Beermen lost to the gritty Magnolia Hotshots, 103-105, Friday evening.

“Marami kasi akong turnovers eh. Sa’kin talaga. Masyado akong nanggigil,” the 6-foot-10 slotman regretted moments after the match at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. “Maraming turnovers na na-convert [yung Magnolia].

“Dun sila nakakuha ng momentum.”

Turnovers truly killed the Beermen in the Finals’ curtain-raiser. Thanks to their defensive intensity, the Hotshots forced the defending, three-time All-Filipino champions to 20 miscues, and they converted those to 20 markers.

The best representation of that was when the Hotshots were able to wipe out a gargantuan 20-point deficit — 52-72 early in the third quarter — and suddenly turned it into a narrow 103-100 lead in the final 43.2 seconds left to play.

According to the league’s chief statistician Fidel Mangonon, the 20-point deficit is the biggest one overhauled in a PBA Finals game en route to a win, since Alaska came back from 21 to beat San Miguel, 78-70, for a 3-0 lead in the 2015 Philippine Cup Finals.

But even with the painful defeat, the 28-year-old still tipped his hat to Magnolia, and especially to Ian Sangalang, who poured in a career-high 29 points — highlighted by the post move he made that led to a Fajardo foul with 16 ticks left.

“Magaling ginawa ni Ian,” lauded Fajardo of the five-year pro, who shot 68 percent from the floor and grabbed nine boards.

Now, Fajardo and the Beermen are back to the drawing board after Friday night’s result, with their sights set on equalizing the series in Game Two this Sunday.

#ReadMore  Ravena remains positive despite lopsided loss to La Salle

“Kailangan lang namin mag-bounce back, kailangan rin ireview bukas kung anong mga naging mali,” said the Cebuano superstar.

“Series naman ‘to eh, ‘di pa naman tapos.”

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

Gilas Pilipinas has kept the same lineup for its upcoming FIBA Asia Cup 2025 qualifier against New Zealand on Thursday, with Justin Brownlee once...

Basketball

Another edition of the Manila Clasico will take place on Christmas Day as the PBA on Monday unveiled the full 2024-25 Commissioner’s Cup schedule....

Basketball

Gilas Pilipinas continue to navigate around manpower woes but the return of Scottie Thompson and June Mar Fajardo is a reason why Coach Tim...

Basketball

San Miguel suffered its second consecutive loss in the 2024-25 East Asia Super League (EASL) season, falling to P.League+ club Taoyuan, 101-85, in a...

Basketball

Angelo Kouame has rejoined the Gilas Pilipinas pool for the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers. The 6-foot-11 Filipino-Ivorian center, who currently plays for...

Basketball

June Mar Fajardo copped the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup Best Player of the Conference award at the expense of his good pal Japeth...

Basketball

June Mar Fajardo continues to rewrite the PBA’s history books. As if doubling the previous record for most Best Player of the Conference awards...

Basketball

Ginebra took a big step in its aspirations of regaining PBA Governors’ Cup glory as it marched on to the Finals after finishing off...

Advertisement