Fajardo still dominates despite four-point first half: ‘Pulot pulot lang’
With the defense zeroing in on him, June Mar Fajardo was held to just four points in the first half of San Miguel’s tiff against Rain or Shine on Friday.
But suppressing the giant all game long proved to be too tough of a task for the Elasto Painters with Fajardo breaking out in the second half to help the Beermen clinch a 107-101 win in overtime.
The three-time PBA Most Valuable Player silently racked up 25 points and 17 rebounds and delivered when his team needed him most in crunch time.
“Pulot pulot lang. Binigyan nila ako ng bola so kailangan ko umiskor,” said Fajardo, who went on a 9-of-12 shooting from the field and also had a 7-of-9 clip from the free throw line.
“Credit talaga sa teammates ko dahil ang ganda ng nilaro nila.”
The victory, which was the Beermen’s seventh straight, also clinched them a twice-to-beat advantage going into the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals.
As the score suggests, the Beermen had a tough time against Rain or Shine, which Fajardo expects to make a deep run in the playoffs.
“Ang ganda ng gameplan nila. Grabe yung takbuhan nila at yung mga big man nila tumitira sa labas,” he said. “Malakas yung team nila. Malamang makapasok din sila sa semis.”
Fajardo noted that San Miguel must be doubly cautious as it tries to sustain its run nearing the quarterfinals.
“Ito na yung crucial part. Kailangan healthy kami. Di pwedeng bababa ang laro namin sa playoffs,” he said.
San Miguel returns to action next Saturday in Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu against GlobalPort.
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.
