June Mar Fajardo and the San Miguel Beermen in the PBA Finals Game 1. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Despite the championship experience and accolades, June Mar Fajardo admitted he still feels nervous stepping on the PBA’s grandest stage.
Even as a nine-time PBA champion reaching the Finals 12 times, Fajardo admitted that being in the Finals—the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals, in this case—still gives him the jitters.
“I get nervous because that’s normal but not so much because I know I have my teammates to help me. I just trust them,” said Fajardo in Filipino after their 103-95 win over Magnolia in Game 1 at Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.
“I still get nervous because we want to win a championship but that’s normal.”
The pressure got the better of the seven-time MVP early.
Despite ending up with a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds with five assists and two blocks to match, Fajardo had a forgettable first half.
Facing the Hotshots’ defensive schemes, Fajardo struggled to get into his groove in the first half where he only registered three points.
That didn’t seem to faze the Gilas Pilipinas mainstay knowing he’s not the Beermen’s main option on offense with import Bennie Boatwright in tow.
“I’m not the priority on offense, what’s up to me is how I set up our import. Magnolia’s defense on us was really good in that first half, especially in the first quarter.”
Fajardo and the Beermen seemed to have been successful in doing just that as Boatwright registered 28 points and 16 rebounds.
The Beermen aim to take a 2-0 advantage over the Hotshots on Sunday at the same venue.