Three-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo came off the bench on Friday night when the San Miguel Beermen took on the Globalport Batang Pier. And after battling the case of the flu last Saturday, the 6-foot-11 big man suffered from a stiff neck this time.
“June Mar is not yet one hundred percent,” shared head coach Leo Austria.
“Meron siyang stiff neck but he wants to help the team and he wants to win, that’s why he’s here.”
Coming off the bench, the proud son of Pinamungajan, Cebu was still able to post numbers above his norms of 14.3 points and 7.8 rebounds, finishing the game with 15 points and eight rebounds to help San Miguel clinch the twice-to-beat incentive after a 112-101 win.
And Fajardo believes that he needed to play this game to be battle-ready for the playoffs.
“Kailangan ihanda namin ang sarili namin kasi malalakas na ang makakalaban namin,” the 27-year-old said as they could either face Phoenix or Alaska in the quarterfinals.
“Iba na ang intensity ng game kasi playoffs na so dapat ready kami.”
