by Jonas Terrado
Games Saturday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:30 p.m. – NLEX vs Rain or Shine
6:45 p.m. – Meralco vs San Miguel
June Mar Fajardo’s return wasn’t impressive as expected but the San Miguel Beermen would rather have their star center back on the floor, especially with the way things are going late in the PBA Governors’ Cup eliminations.
Fajardo played just 10 minutes and scored a lone basket in the second quarter Saturday night, but the Beermen were able to leave the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna with a 109-97 victory over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
The result stretched San Miguel’s winning streak to four games, clinching a quarterfinals berth after improving to 6-4.
While many see Fajardo’s return as a sign of brighter things on the horizon, the Beermen would rather let him take slow steps before regaining the form that made win the last four Most Valuable Player awards.
“Hopefully, June Mar can have good practices in the next few days because it’s obvious that his movement is still very restricted,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.
The 6-foot-10 Cebuano missed the first nine games of the season-ending conference after he was diagnosed with an injury right shin shortly after San Miguel’s defeat in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals last August.
It was only this week that doctors gave Fajardo the go-signal to participate in San Miguel’s practice sessions at the Acropolis gym.
He made his first appearance of the conference with 10:47 left in the second quarter, but seemed to have taken a more careful approach while on the floor.
His lone basket was a one-handed shot in the second quarter that looked unusual for the gentle giant
“Medyo nakakapanibago,” Fajardo said. “Parang hinahabol ko yung kundisyon ko. Siyempre ngayon pa lang ako nakatakbo ulit.”
Fajardo hopes to take advantage of the long break before San Miguel returns to action on Saturday against Meralco at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Beermen may no longer be in contention for a twice-to-beat at that time, if the Alaska Aces and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel win yesterday’s doubleheader at the Big Dome.
“I’m happy to have June Mar back,” said teammate Christian Standhardinger. “And now is the time where we’re gonna play our best basketball.
“He’s a very important part of the puzzle but you still see he just played 10 minutes and he’s still a little hesistant I think so he’s not completely back yet. But for the morale of the people, it means a lot of for us to see June Mar out there again.”
