BEAT-UP, BUT UNBEATEN
The PBA Governors’ Cup playoffs have been a bit unforgiving for many teams, especially powerhouse San Miguel, which has had to play nearly every other day since the quarterfinals.
June Mar Fajardo was candid on Friday night about his team’s situation, telling reporters just how much the Beermen’s bid for a title has taken away one of his pastimes.
“As soon as I get back home, I’m flat on my belly. I don’t even get to play Dota anymore,” the Beermen cornerstone said in Filipino with a chuckle, referring to the popular multiplayer online battle arena video game. “I’m just too tired. And I’ve got no time.”
San Miguel has played seven games—eight, if one were to count its East Asia Super League match—over the course of 13 days. The squad could’ve played less if not for a Converge squad that dragged them to a deciding Game 5 in the first round of the knockout phase.
Fajardo, who had 40 points and 24 rebounds in that decider versus the FiberXers, apologized for not being able to talk to members of the press after Game 1 of the semifinals as he was too tired to accommodate interviews. He made up for that Friday night after the Beermen’s 131-125 overtime victory over Barangay Ginebra that leveled the series to one game apiece.
“The schedule is just too tight. It’s [game day] every other day,” he said. “But we can’t complain, right? We’re still blessed that we’re in this kind of position—that we’re in the semis. Other teams are just dying to get here, so we have no reason to complain.”
Fajardo, who finished with 23 points, 21 rebounds, six assists and two blocks in Game 2, said making use of whatever kind of rest has become paramount for him as it allows him to continue playing at a high level.
No one buckling
This will be tested again when the Beermen try to control their best-of-seven showdown with the Gin Kings in Sunday’s Game 3, which will be played in Dasmariñas, Cavite. So far, no one’s buckling under the torturous schedule.
“I’m just ready every game,” said Terrence Romeo, who sizzled in the fourth and extra periods on the way to dropping 26 points in Game 2.
“I just stay ready. I’ve had a lot of experience in those kinds of moments, and I’ve known the feeling of being in the playoffs, in the semis. I know how to perform (at that stage), which is why my confidence has never dipped, even when it comes to moments like that.”
“We just stuck to our game plan, we just stuck with what we do in practice,” said coach Jorge Gallent.
Meanwhile, defending champion TNT will leave nothing to chance when it battles Rain or Shine at 7:30 p.m., hoping to add to a 2-0 cushion in their race-to-four series. And coach Chot Reyes has pinned those hopes on defense.
“There’s nothing special in what we’re trying to do in particular except from making a point to start with a renewed determination on defense,” he said.
