Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Regardless of league, every basketball team needs one good big man. It’s great if you have two or three but one reliable center who can get the rebounds, create follow-ups and intimidate on defense is more than enough.
The absence of 6-foot-10 June Mar Fajardo because of a leg injury suffered in the semifinal series against Rain or Shine is the main reason why the San Miguel Beermen are in a 2-0 hole in the PBA Smart Bro Philippine Cup finals.
Fajardo not only did the little things big men are expected to do. He stabilized the San Miguel halfcourt game when the ball went into him in the post. Double teams of all kinds would surround him but Fajardo always seemed to find an open teammate like Marcio Lassiter or Alex Cabagnot ready for a long bomb.
Or Fajardo would connive with Arwind Santos to keep the ball alive if the shot was missed. San Miguel would have extra possessions, if not easy follow-ups that would score. Teams would often be too preoccupied with Fajardo that Santos would simply leap over opponents for put backs.
Without their big man, the Beermen have lost the stability of their offense and allowed Alaska’s gutsy big men to have a fiesta in the shaded area. Vic Manuel, Calvin Abueva and Sonny Thoss suddenly have no big man standing in their way. Pick and rolls to the basket have seemed so much easier without San Miguel’s familiar road block.
The absence of Fajardo has also allowed Alaska to have a decent share of the rebounds and these are crucial to engineer their fastbreak attack. A frenetic pace favors the game of Alaska slashers like Cyrus Baguio and Chris Banchero. This frenzied pace is also not good for San Miguel’s health on the court even if they have roadrunners like Ronald Tubid, Chris Ross and Cabagnot.
So is all lost for San Miguel in this series simply because Fajardo remains a doubtful returnee? Word is that Fajardo is just letting the swelling in the injured knee subside and could return by Game 4.
Not really. Game 2 revealed that San Miguel had their own chances of winning the game and tying the series but were unable to capitalize on the opportunities. The series remains competitive and Alaska is not yet out of the woods even if Fajardo is not on the floor.
Game 3 in Lucena will be critical for San Miguel. If they win, they will remain very much in the hunt. They have to deliver when the opportunities present themselves, whether they be good looks at the basket, free throws or fastbreak chances.
A loss could open the door for Alaska to win its first championship with Alex Compton. But closing out is never ever easy regardless of how much you lead in a championship series.
And even if the other side doesn’t have it’s big man.
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BOXING HAS LOST A VOICE. The recent passing of boxing commentator and manager Hermie Rivera has left the sport without one of its most resonant voices. I fondly remember him covering fights with passion and his insider’s knowledge would always surface.
When he was no longer covering bouts and I was assigned to do a Manny Pacquiao fight in Las Vegas or here at home, he would always share with me what he recently learned. Just like with Smoking Joe Cantada before him, I would listen intently and we would end our lesson with laughter that would fill the pressroom.
I will miss the lessons, the voice and the laughter.