Reduced to tears after first finals loss, Fajardo raring to get back at Magnolia

June Mar Fajardo. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

If there’s ever an illustration for “jovial giant,” the picture of four-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo may just pop up.

Fajardo once said in a post-game interview that he doesn’t like to get into on-court altercations because it’s “tiring” and steers his focus away from winning.

With such an amiable heart, it’s hard to imagine Fajardo holding a grudge against practically anyone but there is always an exception to the rule as Fajardo’s only loss in his finals career is still firmly etched in his mind.

Fajardo was just a rookie when he led the then-Petron Blaze Boosters to the 2013 Governors’ Cup, but what followed was pure heartbreak when he watched the San Mig Coffee Mixers, now the Magnolia Hotshots, lift the trophy after seven games.

After waiting for five years to get his hands on his old tormentors, who completed a rare Grand Slam in 2014, the Kraken is ready to unleash that pent-up fury.

“I as really hurt during my rookie year because we lost in the finals, I wailed in front of my parents so I told myself I will get back at them,” said Fajardo during the Philippine Cup finals press conference Wednesday at Eastwood City. “I really cried that night because the loss was too painful, I hope I won’t cry this time around.”

Fajardo, who is an avid gamer, said he broke his personal computer to pieces when he vented out his frustration and his constant playmate Marc Pingris knows about the PC-smashing incident.

Pingris, who is sidelined after tearing the ACL in his left knee, was one of Fajardo’s main defenders in those seven games, where the young center averaged 18.75 points and 14.5 rebounds.

“It’s unfortunate that Ping isn’t here, I’ve been telling him that I’ll get back at him but he isn’t here so I’ll just my prayers his way and wish him a fast recovery,” said Fajardo.

The reigning MVP added that he plans to replace his smashed PC with a new one, and the money he intends to use would be the potential bonus he gets if the Beermen beat the Hotshots in this series.

And in true Fajardo fashion, he couldn’t help but inject comedy in an otherwise serious situation.

“I’ll buy a new PC, a male and a female so they can breed and reproduce,” joked Fajardo. “I smashed my old one when we lost to Magnolia so I hope I can buy a new one.”