Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Still seething from its shock 105-103 loss to Mahindra on Wednesday, San Miguel got the reality check it badly needed in the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup.
Learning from the miscues of that game, the Beermen made it clear that it would not happen again.
Unfortunately for Star, San Miguel vented its frustrations on the Hotshots as it hit from almost everywhere to score a 109-100 victory on Sunday.
June Mar Fajardo bared that the loss to the Enforcer was enough of a motivation for the Beermen to rebound big.
“Pinagusapan namin yun after ng game sa Mahindra. Kailangan namin mag-bounce back sa game na ito. Alam naman natin na galing ang Star sa panalo kaya mataas ang kumpyansa nila, kaya kailangan taasan talaga namin yung energy namin,” he said. “Sabi ni coach, kailangan yung lapses sa Mahindra, kailangan punuan sa game na ito.”
Fajardo teamed up with import AZ Reid to deliver the win for San Miguel.
The two-time Best Import awardee was all over the court for the Beermen, finishing with 34 points, 11 assists, five steals, and four rebounds while the two-time Most Valuable Player provided the stability the team needed and tallied 28 markers, 13 boards, two assists, two steals, and two blocks in the victory.
Though the win could be seen as a glimpse of the capability a focused San Miguel team could offer, Fajardo still warned his teammates to not rest on their laurels and keep on grinding.
“Walang mahinang team sa conference na ito. Lahat ng team na nasa baba, lumalakas na at natatalo na yung nasa taas. Kailangan na itaas yung intensity namin kasi di kami pwedeng maging overconfident. Pwede kaming talunin ng kahit na sinong team,” he said.
And in sync to that, Fajardo also wished that injured players like Arwind Santos and Gabby Espinas could soon reunite with the team as the Beermen hopes to retain the third conference trophy.
“Sana tuloy-tuloy na ito at walang ma-injure sa amin, mahirap na may injured sa amin. Mas ok na kumpleto kami. Sana makabalik agad si kuya Arwind at Gabby kasi kailangan namin sila,” he said.