Fajardo lifts PBA Philippine Cup trophy as Beermen celebrate another crown. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
June Mar Fajardo tossed and turned in bed the night before San Miguel went for the clincher against Ginebra in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
And after the Beermen closed the deal out with a 91-85 Game 5 triumph on Sunday to win their third straight All-Filipino crown, you bet the first thing on Fajardo’s mind was finally getting some sleep.
Aerieal Patnongon said she policed her boyfriend’s sleeping through the course of the playoffs, believing that if Fajardo had slept early, his performance would take a hit.
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“When he wants to sleep early, say 10 or 11 p.m., I stop him and tell him to play with his phone. When he sleeps early, he gets up really early and that affects his game,” the former Ateneo Lady Eagle said in Filipino.
Patnongon has also gone the extra mile in embracing the three-time PBA Most Valuable Player’s favorite pastimes, notably mobile games, with the two spending time playing Mobile Legends on their phones.
“He sleeps at 1:30 a.m. and wakes up at 10:30 a.m. during gamedays. That really gets him going and prepares him well for the games,” she said, also noting that her beau needs to get at least eight hours of sleep.
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Coincidence or not, the quirk worked wonders for Fajardo as he averaged 18.9 points, 14.2 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 1.7 assists this past Philippine Cup, en route to his record-tying fifth Best Player of the Conference award.
With San Miguel’s journey to a three-peat already accomplished, Patnongon could only say one thing to her “babe.”
“He can sleep anytime he wants now,” she said with a smile.