Austria confident Fajardo will suit up in PBA finals

June Mar Fajardo vs defenders. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

San Miguel Beer head coach Leo Austria did not rule out the possibility of June Mar Fajardo seeing action in the 2016 Philippine Cup Finals between the Beermen and the Alaska Aces.

In the latest development on the Beermen center’s injury, Austria said that the team doctors assured Fajardo’s left knee has no structural damage and that the ACL and PCL are “intact.”

Austria, who refuted earlier reports that Fajardo will be sidelined for the remainder of the conference, also said Fajardo’s status in the best-of-seven championship duel will depend on the improvement of his knee’s swelling.

“Those stories coming out [about him tearing his ACL], they are inaccurate. Before the practice [today], I talked to the doctor and he told me the ACL and PCL are intact. It was just strained so there was swelling, but definitely he’ll be able to play in the series,” Austria told INQUIRER.net in Filipino over the phone on Saturday, the eve of Game 1 of their best-of-seven duel.

“This morning, he was having difficulty walking because his knee was still swelling. But I was told he will be okay, no surgery. We are waiting for swelling to subside. There’s a chance he will play this finals. We just need the swelling to go down,” said Austria.

Austria added Fajardo is likely to miss the finals opener on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum, but the veteran coach said the team remains confident amid the possibility of losing its best player.

The reigning back-to-back MVP was stretchered off in the third quarter of San Miguel Beer’s 90-82 win over Rain or Shine in Game 6 of their semifinals series Friday night after hurting his left knee during a rebound play.

Fajardo, who is on pace to win another Best Player of the Conference plum, averaged 34.8 points, 16.4 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game in the semis. Celest Flores-Colina

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