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Fajardo eager to perform for San Miguel despite slight injury

San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo against Magnolia during the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals Game 5. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News. 

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Rom Anzures

ABS-CBN News

<figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments" id="isPasted"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1707663824402.png" alt="San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo against Magnolia during the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner&#x27;s Cup Finals Game 5. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News. " class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><figcaption>San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo against Magnolia during the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner&#x27;s Cup Finals Game 5. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News. </figcaption></figure><div> </div>MANILA — Despite playing with left calf tightness, it was a normal day in the office for June Mar Fajardo during the San Miguel Beermen’s victory over the Magnolia Hotshots.The 6-foot-10, seven-time PBA MVP poured in 18 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and had an assist after playing three seconds short of 35 minutes in Game 5 of the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals, but Fajardo deflected all the praise to his SMB teammates.“Ano lang ako dun, pulot pulot lang ako dun,” the soft-spoken big man told reporters while in their dugout at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night.“Wala naman akong ginawa eh, yung mga teammates ko yung gumawa talaga doon,” he added.Fajardo instead hailed the performances of Best Player of the Game Jericho Cruz who tied his career-best 30 points, and Simon Enciso who got 15 markers after starting for the first time in this series.“Buti nakuha namin ‘tong panalo na ‘to. Credit sa coaching staff namin, naka-adjust sila, grabe yung adjustments namin,” said Fajardo.“Credit din sa teammates ko, ang galing ng nilaro nila lalo na si Jericho at si Simon din,” added Fajardo of the duo who combined for 13 of SMB’s 16 conversions from the three-point area. “Ang ganda ng bunot ni coach. Nag-step up talaga yung binunot ni coach, and team effort yung ginawa namin.”Fajardo revealed that he was supposed to sit out the game due to soreness in his lower leg, but opted to play given the crucial nature of the contest. The Beermen had dropped the previous two games after taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 series. “Kailangan eh. Pag ‘di ako naglaro today, same lang naman eh, yung healing, so might as well maglaro na lang ngayon,” the former no.1 overall pick said.“Good thing may two days kaming pahinga, so ang laking bagay non,” Fajardo added, while also emphasizing SMB’s need for his presence despite the risk of it affecting his stint with Gilas Pilipinas later this month. “Oo, pero kailangan namin manalo eh. Yung goal namin, yung championship muna.”SMB can already clinch the Commissioner’s Cup title on February 14 at the same venue, which is why Fajardo is hoping for his squad to at least replicate their Game 5 performance, and in turn, make their Valentine’s Day as sweet as it can get. “Sana, next game ganoon pa ‘rin yung lalaruin namin, or tataasan pa namin.”Tip-off on Wednesday is at 7:30 PM. <div>RELATED VIDEO</div><figure><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WLaDhQF3dHA?enablejsapi=1"></iframe></figure>Watch more News on <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a><div> </div><div> </div>

Despite playing with left calf tightness, it was a normal day in the office for June Mar Fajardo during San Miguel’s victory over Magnolia today.

Despite playing with left calf tightness, it was a normal day in the office for June Mar Fajardo during San Miguel’s victory over Magnolia today.