By CARLO ANOLIN
June Mar Fajardo doesn’t mind incurring scars for as long as he fulfills his duty.
For him it’s his badge of honor.
Fajardo, who sustained a huge scratch on his right arm, delivered big time, posting double-double performance of 27 points and 27 rebounds as the Beermen surged ahead, 2-1, in their best-of-seven Finals series of the PBA Philippine Cup.
“Kailangan ko lang kunin ‘yong rebounds. ‘Yon na lang ‘yong trabaho ko e. Kailangan ko i-boxout kasi maganda ‘yong depensa ng Talk ‘N Text sa’kin. Nahihirapan ako maka-score,” said the 32-year-old Fajardo after SMB edged TNT in overtime,108-100, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Friday night, Aug. 26.
“Nahihirapan ako makatanggap sa poste so kinukuha ko muna ‘yong sa depensa, ‘yong rebounds. So buti ‘yong bola doon bumabagsak sa malapit sa akin so nakukuha ko,” said Fajardo, who lived up to his moniker “Kraken.”
Aside from sheer luck of the ball falling into his place, Fajardo showed why he is a six-time Most Valuable Player for a reason by grabbing the rebounds on hustle plays against the likes of TNT bigs in Kelly Williams and Poy Erram.
Out of the 56 rebounds grabbed by the Beermen, Fajardo grabbed 20 defensive boards and seven offensively.
Fajardo finished with a 10-of-18 shooting and went perfect from the free throw line, making all his seven attempts.
And as far as physicality is concerned, the eight-time PBA champion said it is already a given in the league, especially in a Finals series.
“Okay lang ‘yan. Wala namang mamamatay sa kalmot,” jested the soft-spoken center. “Pisikal ‘yong game. Expected ‘yon sa kailangan ko maging composed sa loob. ‘Di ako nagpapadala, as much as possible, ‘di ako nagco-complain sa referee para ‘yong focus ko sa game lang talaga.”
