June Mar Fajardo tasted the sweetest of victories anew.
The six-time PBA MVP got himself another championship as San Miguel returned on top of the Philippine Cup by ousting TNT from its reign by way of a 119-97 conquest in Game Seven of the Finals at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Masaya kami na nakabalik kami on top,” the eventual Finals MVP said moments after emerging from the Beermen dugout, Sunday night.
“Hindi ganun kadali ‘yung pinagdaanan namin. Ilang years din kaming ‘di naka-champion.”
The journey back to the Promised Land definitely wasn’t easy.
Most especially, for Fajardo himself.
The past two years were a stretch so tough for the Cebuano cager. Back in February of 2020, the league would lose one of its biggest stars for a long while as he suffered a broken tibia during team practice.
Fajardo had to sit out for over a year due to the injury. The road to recovery itself was not easy as he bumped into minor setbacks along the way, and he admitted to doubting himself if he can play at a high level again.
And while he was trying to make his way back, crushing news reached him. His mother, Marites, passed away in August of last year in their home province of Cebu, leaving the proud ‘Mama’s Boy’ devastated.
“Hindi ganun kadali ‘yung pinagdaanan ko. Grabe injury ko, halos two years akong na-sideline. ‘Yun pa, nangyari pa sa family namin,” recalled Fajardo, who shared the stage with his mom and dad when he received his sixth MVP.
But he kept the faith.
“Lahat naman ng nangyayari sa buhay natin, may plano naman si God e. ‘Di ka naman bibigyan ni God ng trials na ‘di mo kaya, ‘di ba,” said Fajardo. “Thankful din ako sa mga taong nagga-guide sa’kin, sumusuporta sa’kin.”
Now, he’s victorious once again. After extending his record number of BPCs to nine just a week ago, Fajardo added PBA championship No. 9 to his rich collection while also bagging home his fourth Finals MVP title.
“I-cherish namin ‘tong moment na ‘to,” he said.
It was mission accomplished for SMB after reclaiming the Perpetual trophy it once held for five years. So while they await for the new conference to start, Fajardo is going back home to take some time off and recover.
And, of course, visit his mom.
“Uwi muna ako. Doon ako sa sementeryo, kakausapin ko si Mama. Tatambay ako roon.
“Siyempre, na-miss ko siya, ilamng months din na hindi ko siya nabisita. Uwi muna ako,” said the 32-year-old. “Relax muna.”
Surely, he’ll have lots of stories to tell her.
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The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
