Fajardo, Beermen step up for coach

San Miguel Beermen. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Aggressive from the get-go, June Mar Fajardo seemed like a man on a mission on Tuesday in San Miguel’s quarterfinal tussle against TNT in the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup.

The four-time PBA Most Valuable Player played with a purpose and set the tone for the Beermen with his unstoppable game in the paint which paved the way for the 106-93 drubbing of the KaTropa.

Fajardo and he rest of San Miguel badly wanted to take the victory for coach Leo Austria and his wife Nanette, who just underwent kidney transplant earlier in the day.

READ: Austria turns emotional after SMB win as wife undergoes kidney transplant

“It wasn’t easy for him [coach Leo],” remarked the Cebuano giant in Filipino.

.@TheSMBeermen’s June Mar Fajardo shares how important the qf win vs TNT was, not just for the team’s 4-peat chances, but also for coach @austrialeo. #PBA2018 pic.twitter.com/I77UcXzOAb

— Randolph B. Leongson (@RLeongsonINQ) March 6, 2018

Fajardo finished with a game-high 35 points on a 15-of-19 shooting clip, to go with 11 rebounds and two blocks as he guided his side back to the semifinals to make the day a little more sweeter for the Beermen.

The win, coupled with the operation’s success, gave them — especially Austria — all the more reason to celebrate.

READ: Fajardo wreaks havoc as San Miguel ousts TNT, advances to semis

“We really needed to win because we can’t afford to give them the momentum,” said Fajardo. “We just focused and the credit should go to my teammates because we all stepped up.”

With San Miguel one step closer in its quest for a four-peat in the all-Filipino conference, Fajardo said the Beermen should take advantage of their break as they await their opponent, either Ginebra or Rain or Shine, in the semis.

“We need to rest and be ready for the semis because nothing’s going to be easy. We need to practice well no matter who our opponent is,” he said.