June Mar Fajardo has been steady from the foul stripe all through the finals series. Prior to Game Five, he had been shooting 75 percent from the free throw line.
But in the first close game of the series, the seven-time Best Player of the Conference was probably overwhelmed by the moment with 55 seconds left.
With San Miguel clinging to a solitary point lead, Fajardo missed two crucial charities. In the next possession, Scottie Thompson was able to knock down the go-ahead layup that put Ginebra up for good.
And the 28-year-old big man could not help but lament those shots.
“Gusto ko makatulong sa team ko na manalo. Nakaka-frustrate. Nagmintis pa ako ng dalawa sa free throw,” expressed the usually-stoic big man, who finished the game with 23 points on 10-for-12 shooting from the field to go along with 11 rebounds.
“Dahil doon, kung nai-shoot ko siguro, mag-iiba siguro ang storya pero namintis ko. Akin ‘yun.”
On Wednesday, the defending champions will have their backs against the wall. But the six-time champion has no other choice but to move on.
“Akin yun. Kailangan namin mag-regroup, magpahinga para makabawi sa next game. Mahirap pero nandito kami sa ganitong situwasyon before, so siguro kaya naman namin gawin ulit ‘yun,” recalled Fajardo about their 2016 Beeracle run. “Mahirap pero kailangan talaga ibigay namin yung pinaka-best namin.
“All-out talaga.”
