Loss spoils Fajardo’s 40-20 game: ‘Di importante sakin yung record, mahalaga yung panalo’
June Mar Fajardo. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
He may have had a historic game, but for June Mar Fajardo, the team is and will always be his first priority.
Becoming only the second local to tally a 40-point, 20-rebound game after Asi Taulava did it back in 2003 didn’t matter for the Cebuano giant especially that San Miguel fell to Alaska on Sunday.
READ: The little mistakes killed San Miguel—Santos
“Syempre mas maganda kung nanalo kami. Di naman importante sa akin yung record o yung stats, ang mahalaga yung panalo. Crucial game yun eh,” he said.
Fajardo’s career-high 43 points and 20 rebounds went to waste as the Beermen squandered a chance to book the first outright semis seat in the loss.
But the two-time PBA MVP isn’t blaming anyone on the defeat, saying, “Namintis lang namin yung mga crucial shots namin nung last two minutes. Usually, nashu-shoot namin. Talo talaga eh.”
READ: Alaska snaps San Miguel’s 7-game streak, closes in on outright semis berth
He also credited Alaska’s defense for the Beermen’s struggles all-game long, forcing Fajardo to do much of the heavy-lifting for his squad.
“As a team, maganda ang nilaro nila. Maganda yung rotation nila sa bola. May gameplan naman si coach Leo pero di masyado na-maximize,” said Fajardo. “Kailangan ko lang talaga umiskor. Dala na rin siguro ng free throw, dun ako nakabawi kasi lagi nila ako fina-foul.”
But Abuea is still optimistic since San Miguel is still assured of a playoff for the top two spots in case Alaska and Rain or Shine win their last games.
A three-way tie at 9-2 would put the Beermen and the Aces in a duel for the last automatic semifinals ticket.
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
