Pain filled June Mar Fajardo’s eyes after Gilas Pilipinas’ tough home loss to Kazakhstan, Friday evening.
As he left the SM Mall of Asia Arena, the 6-foot-10 big man could not help but think of the what-if’s and the what-could-have-been’s.
“Nag-help ako nung part ng game na yun,” the 29-year-old recalled about the last play.
With 12.7 seconds left and Kazakhstan leading by two, the visitors’ floor general Rustam Yergali drove through the lane. Instead of staying with his man, Fajardo decided to help out Yergali’s defender. That split-second proved to be the difference, as Yergali was able to dish it out to Anton Bykov for the dagger.
It was just that kind of night for Gilas.
Midway through the final frame, Fajardo and Gilas were able to get the breaks their way. After the four-time Most Valuable Player in the PBA missed a free throw, a Kazakh player tapped it too early, resulting in a goaltending call to give Gilas a two-point edge.
But Gilas could not sustain ride their momentum, as Kazakhstan’s bigs proved too fast for the Filipinos.
And that happened every time they attempted a run during the 40-minute affair.
“Sobrang mahirap kasi dami nilang tres na napasok,” admitted Fajardo, who had 14 points and 13 rebounds in the game.
With the loss and Japan’s win earlier in the day, Gilas cannot afford any more losses in their last three games. But in two days, Iran will pay a visit – a team that defeated them back in September 13, 73-81.
Which is why Fajardo and the rest of Gilas need to move on after this loss; just absorb the lessons from this then move on.
“Two days na lang at Iran naman. Masakit, masakit, lalo na nasa homecourt tayo. Lesson learned,” he expressed.
“Yun nga, hindi namin puwede i-down mga sarili natin dahil sa pagkatalong ito, hindi natin pwedeng dalhin yung sama ng loob sa game sa Monday – mas lalong maapektuhan tayo.”
