UNLESS Magnolia pulls an ace off its sleeve, powerhouse San Miguel Beer is poised to rule the season-opening tourney, thanks not only to prolific import Bennie Boatwright but also largely to reigning seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo.
Beermen coach Jorge Gallent gushed on the big impact of the 6-foot-10 behemoth in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
“June Mar does a lot for this team. He plays good defense. When he gets the ball in the post, he can do a lot of things,” Gallent said. “He’s a great passer and he’s a great post player. If they don’t double him, he’s gonna go straight to the basket. “Now, if they double him, he passes the ball very well. That’s why he’s a seven-time MVP.”
SMB battled Magnolia in Game 3 of their best-of-7 finals duel last night holding a commanding 2-0 lead. If the Beermen get the job done anew for the third straight time in the Big Dance, they could go for a stunning sweep of the race-to-4 series in the fourth tiff tomorrow, also at the Big Dome.
Gallent’s charges are bidding to annex their 29th title overall and their first crown in the same import-spiced tilt since its 2019 edition with Chris McCollough as their reinforcement.
Fajardo notched a double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds in SMB’s 109-85 rout of the Hotshots in Game 2 last Sunday where he boomed in two straight three-pointers late in the match.
“Binibigyan ako ng kumpiyansa ni coach,” Fajardo said. “Pinapatira niya ako. Sa practice, tumitira ako sa practice.
“Hindi lang ako tumitira sa game masyado kasi marami nang shooters. Baka mawalan sila ng trabaho,” he added in jest.
Teammate CJ Perez took the cudgels for the Beermen in the eliminations when Fajardo went down with a knee injury and was a key cog in SMB’s 11-game winning streak dating back to the elims and as of last night.
Fajardo lost his chance for the Best Player of the Conference award after only suiting up six games for SMB in the eliminations but that’s just fine.
“Iyong priority ko lang naman sa loob, mag-facilitate or pumasa ng bola. Hinahanap ko si Bennie (Boatwright) or binibigyan ko siya ng screen,” he said.
“Sobrang daming scorers sa team. Mabuti pinapasahan ako at nakaka-score ako.”
In a meet with high-scoring imports in tow, Fajardo has norms of 16.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.6 blocks in only 11 games is solid proof Fajardo is one of the best–if not the best local in the conference–and more importantly has led the Beermen on the crosshairs of the Promised Land.
