Even if the odds are going in their favor after securing their fourth straight Philippine Cup Finals appearance, reigning Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo doesn’t want to be too confident with the San Miguel Beermen’s chances.
The Beermen, who escaped a gritty Barangay Ginebra 100-94 in Game Five of the semifinals Saturday night, is now waiting for the winner of the NLEX Road Warriors-Magnolia Hotshots series as their opponents in the title bout.
And that is where Fajardo’s wariness comes from.
“‘Di ko masabi [kung sinong gusto namin makalaban sa Finals] pero… Basta alam namin na ‘di sila ganun kadaling kalabanin pag nakapasok sila sa Finals,” warned the four-time Most Valuable Player after Game Five at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.
Which is indeed true, knowing that the Road Warriors and the Hotshots have so much up in their respective sleeves due to the great chess match taking place between brilliant bench strategists Yeng Guiao and Chito Victolero.
But even with a tough challenge looming on the horizon for them, the 6-foot-11 big man says that he and the Beermen will do whatever it takes to to win, as their sights are locked in to getting their fourth straight All-Filipino crown.
“Gagawin namin lahat para manalo. Lahat naman tayo naglalaro para manalo ‘di ba? Yun din goal namin. Di madali yun, kailangan naming magsakripisyo para dun,” said Fajardo, who had 20.8 points and 12.8 boards in the series.
“‘Di pa tapos yung misyon namin so kailangan namin magpahinga at magpraktis ng maayos.”
During the elimination round, San Miguel needed to rally back against Magnolia last February 4, taking a 77-76 win, while they were able to dominate NLEX, 109-98, last January 19.
