June Mar Fajardo in action in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. -PBA IMAGES
San Miguel Beer star June Mar Fajardo will be sidelined for four to six weeks after fracturing his left hand in Wednesday’s victory over Rain or Shine in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Team manager Gee Abanilla confirmed that Fajardo was diagnosed with a metacarpal fracture of fourth digit based on a test done following the Beermen’s 115-110 victory the other night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Fajardo got hurt while trying to block an attempt by Rain or Shine rookie Adrian Nocum in the third quarter, but was able to play a few minutes in the payoff period before spending the waning moments on the bench.
He also downplayed the severity of his injury afterward, though he had hoped that nothing serious would come out which was not the case.
The timetable means that the seven-time Most Valuable Player could miss a big portion or the remainder of San Miguel’s elimination round schedule, depending on how fast Fajardo can recover.
Smart Araneta Coliseum has added an additional wall at the hallway area where the locker rooms are located.
Then-NLEX import Thomas Robinson & NorthPort team manager Pido Jarencio figured in a verbal exchange after their PBA Commissioner’s Cup game last week. @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/P2BeV9i2tX
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) November 29, 2023
Those games may include marquee matchups with Magnolia, TNT and Barangay Ginebra as well as the Christmas Day duel against Phoenix.
It’s the latest injury to hit Fajardo since missing the whole 2020 season due to a fractured right tibia.
The 6-foot-10 center missed 13 of San Miguel’s 59 games the previous season after undergoing throat surgery in the Commissioner’s Cup before hurting his left knee while playing in the East Asia Super League Champions Week in Japan.
He is the latest player to join a list of injured personnel that has hit the Beermen camp even before the season started.
Terrence Romeo (knee), Vic Manuel (knee), Jeron Teng (hamstring) and rookie Kyt Jimenez (orbital fracture) have either missed parts or the whole duration of the conference.