Turnover-prone Fajardo takes blame for SMB’s Game 1 loss

June Mar Fajardo was a one-man wrecking crew for San Miguel in the first game of the PBA Philippine Cup finals against Magnolia.

The four-time MVP threw his weight around the paint and put up 31 points and 18 rebounds, but his recklessness also had its downside when he turned the ball over 11 times.

That proved to be a major factor in San Miguel’s 105-103 loss to the Hotshots Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum, and he knows there is no one else to blame but himself.

“I had so many turnovers, it was my fault,” said Fajardo in Filipino. “I was trying too hard and trying to do so much and that led to those turnovers.”

Fajardo’s total turnovers matched the Hotshots’ mark as a team as San Miguel collectively threw the ball away 20 times.

The Hotshots made good use of all those San Miguel errors scoring 20 points off turnovers.

Fajardo said they never underestimated the Hotshots, who are on their first championship series since completing the Grand Slam in 2014, despite having reached the Philippine Cup finals four times in a row and winning three straight.

“No, we didn’t underestimate them,” said Fajardo. “It’s just that I had so many turnovers and Magnolia got momentum from that.”