ANTIPOLO – Getting mugged by capable big men defensively is nothing new to June Mar Fajardo, for he endures as much almost on a nightly basis.
But the nine-time PBA MVP won’t hide that it gets all the more challenging when his counterparts make him work double time on D, too, just by stretching the floor–like what happened in Game 1 of the Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals.
‘”Yung bigs nila, may tira sa labas,” he offered moments after San Miguel’s 91-96 defeat to TNT on Wednesday night at the Ynares Center here.
Fajardo still finished with his usual numbers of 24 points and 17 rebounds, but didn’t get them easily as the Tropang 5G threw varying defenses against him.
Coach Chot Reyes flung a surplus of bigs his way, from Kelly Williams to Poy Erram, to Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, to Henry Galinato.
(C) PBA Images
The 2008 league MVP and the 2018 Defensive Player of the Year gave him the most fits as the duo combined for three of the team’s nine threes.
“Dami nilang na-shoot na threes,” lamented the Cebuano star, whose own Beermen made just five of their 25 attempts from the first arc.
SMB still made it a ball game when they cut a 19-point TNT lead to just one twice inside the final seven minutes. Fajardo himself was key in that comeback attempt with big hits inside.
The same with Don Trollano and Jericho Cruz, as they forced the opposition to commit turnovers in crunch time that enabled them to get close.
However, they just couldn’t find the one punch that could’ve stolen back the momentum, ultimately folding as Jordan Heading came through with the backbreaking shots to finish the game in the Tropa’s favor.
Fajardo, though, isn’t feeling concerned. He liked the way the team fought, especially in the second half, which San Miguel won, 55-43.
“Laki ng hinabol namin nung first half, talo kami sa first half pero panalo kami sa second half,” said the 36-year-old, who scored 10 in the last two quarters.
It’s something to carry over to Game 2 on Friday, still at the Ynares Center here, as the Beermen try to bounce back and equalize.
“May chance pa naman kami. Malayo pa ‘yan,” Fajardo said.
“Kailangan namin mag-bounce back, kailangan namin mag-regroup.”
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June Mar Fajardo says he has to adjust to TNT’s frontcourt depth in the next games#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/zCatwARwrj
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— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) January 21, 2026
