San Miguel Beermen. PBA IMAGES
It didn’t help San Miguel that reigning MVP June Mar Fajardo did spent more time than intended on the bench Friday night.
Fajardo was saddled by foul trouble, picking up his fifth foul with still more than a quarter to go in the Beermen’s 97-96 loss to Ginebra in game 2 of the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals.
“Mahirap kasi early foul trouble agad ako, and ang dami naming lapses,” said Fajardo. “Kailangan mag-mature kasi veteran team na kami eh.”
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“May games pang natitira and kailangan mag regroup.”
And if there’s one defensive miscue Fajardo would reel over, it was Japeth Aguilar’s uncontested game-winning jumper that put Ginebra within a win of dethroning the defending champions.
Aguilar, who was Fajardo’s defensive assignment, was left unguarded in the left baseline after Solomon Mercado’s pass.
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Fajardo, after watching the 6-foot-9 Aguilar release the jumper, had just one thing in mind.
“Sana magmintis, eh maganda naman nilaro ni Japeth,” said Fajardo.