Gallent credits SMB dominance to June Mar Fajardo
SAN Miguel Beer coach Jorge Gallent is quick to remind everyone that the Beermen’s ongoing franchise-tying record 11 straight wins and the team’s conference brilliance is due to the presence of June Mar Fajardo.
Back in action since missing several games in the elimination due to a fractured left wrist, the seven-time league Most Valuable Player is back to his old, deadly self in the Finals.
“June Mar does a lot to this team. He plays good defense, especially when June Mar gets ball at the spot, he can do a lot of things. He’s a great passer, he’s a great post player,” Gallent told media men shortly after San Miguel ran roughshod over Magnolia again in a huge 109-85 Game 2 win on Sunday night to grab a 2-0 Finals series lead.
“If they don’t double him, he’s going straight to the basket, and if they double him, he passes the ball very well. That’s why he’s a seventime MVP,” the added.
Limited to two points in the first half, the 6-foot-10 Fajardo flexed his muscles in the last two periods after firing 17, scoring inside, while making two three-pointers, a rare occurrence in his long and distinguished PBA career.
“I’m just fulfilling my role in the team and I’m thankful to coach for giving me the confidence, but it’s (Game 2 win) really a team effort because our ball rotation was so good,” Fajardo said in Filipino.
Asked to comment on his two three-point shots made, Fajardo said it’s something he’s been working on in practice, with the encouragement from Gallent.
“Coach gives me the confidence to just shoot (threes). But in practice, I’m shooting threes also, but in the game, I just don’t attempt to shoot because we have a lot of shooters, and my teammates might lose their jobs,” said the 34-year-old many-time Gilas star big man in jest, eliciting laughter from the press.
The Beermen have been unstoppable since the second half of the eliminations. Aside from its ongoing 11-game win streak that has now spilled over in
the title series, San Miguel has gone 9-0 since import Bennie Boatwright came in to replace Ivan Aska as well.
Game 3 heads back to the Smart Araneta Coliseum this Wednesday with Fajardo and the rest of the Beermen gunning for a commanding 3-0 series lead.