Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—San Miguel’s journey in the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup has been one of its toughest in the last five years.
The Beermen experienced fair share of challenges in their first four Philippine Cup campaigns under Leo Austria and this season hasn’t had any shortage of adversities.
Its 7-4 finish for the No. 5 spot in the standings was the lowest San Miguel finished in the elimination round under Austria and reigning five-time MVP June Mar Fajardo knows all too well that the Beermen did have a hard time this conference.
This will be the third Game 7 in a Philippine Cup final that Austria’s Beermen will undertake after going back-and-forth against Magnolia through six games with neither team able to win two in a row so far.
“It was hard, it was really hard because the other teams have improved so much, there are no weak teams now,” said Fajardo in Filipino after leading the Beermen to a 98-86 win over the Hotshots Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Magnolia is a really strong team, and reaching Game 7 is hard enough. Magnolia is tough, and you really can’t underestimate them.”
Fajardo, a two-time Finals MVP, added that no team will hold any advantage over the other in Game 7 as winning a do-or-die for all the marbles boils down to which team has the greater desire.
“There really is no advantage because they beat us three times, it’s really a level field” said Fajardo, who finished with 23 points and 18 rebounds. “The one who will win is whoever will give their best in Game 7.”