ONE MORE. Alex Cabagnot (5) and the rest of the San Miguel Beermen are a win away from completing the greatest comeback in PBA history. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
San Miguel Beer, which has the momentum when the Beermen and the Alaska Aces dispute the PBA Philippine Cup championship on Wednesday, will be one rested side when the all-or-nothing Game 7 unfurls at Mall of Asia Arena.
For the first time since the Final Four started, the Beermen cooled their heels and rested their battered bodies on Saturday before plunging back to work yesterday.
They have a task no other team has ever accomplished in the league’s first 40 years.
“We were either (playing) in Lucena, at Araneta, at Ultra (Philsports Arena) or the Acropolis gym (for practice, during the past several days),” San Miguel coach Leo Austria said after giving his amazing Beermen a day off following Friday’s 100-89 win that forged a Game 7 for the season’s most prestigious crown.
“We haven’t had a day off in three weeks, and it’s either games or practices for us,” he said. “This four-day break is actually welcome for both teams.”
Before the start of the championship series, the PBA actually couldn’t find a suitable venue for the rubber match, slated two days after Game 6. Smart Araneta Coliseum was hosting cockfighting’s bi-annual 2016 World Slasher Cup and the other big venues had been booked for other activities.
But it was a blessing in disguise for both squads, most especially for the Beermen, who are looking to get more from June Mar Fajardo in his comeback from a twisted left knee that kept the reigning two-time MVP out of the first four games of the series.
“Up until Game 6, June Mar played at just about 70 percent,” Austria said. “At least, when Game 7 comes, and because of the four-day break, he will be up to 85 to 90 percent.”
Slower on the pivot than the usual, Fajardo still proved unstoppable, however.
In the two games that he played, Fajardo played an average of just over 19 minutes and turned in 14.5 points and 5.5 rebounds as Austria opted to break him back in slowly to get optimum performance from his big man.
Fajardo, however, doesn’t believe in giving percentages to gauge his readiness and health for Game 7.
“I don’t care about that,” the talented behemoth said. “All I know is that it will be the last game (of the conference) and that we can rest the following day. I will give it my all, no matter how I feel (going into the game).”