San Miguel Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo during the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals Game 6 against Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone joked that he had mapped out an evil plot to let San Miguel Beer star June Mar Fajardo attend the first day of Gilas Pilipinas’ preparation for the Fiba Asia Cup and run him ragged before Game 7 of their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series.
“I tried to get him and insist that he come,” Cone said before smiling. “I [was] gonna make him do wind sprints. But coach Al [San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua] said ‘No.’ But my plan was to make him do wind sprints.”
Fajardo was excused from taking part in the session, which was reduced to a mixture of meet-up, film viewing and voluntary shooting drills, given his focus on bigger things as San Miguel and Ginebra meet one more time for the right to have a crack at denying TNT’s bid for a Grand Slam.
Tipoff is set at 7:30 p.m. inside Smart Araneta Coliseum, the schedule set following LA Tenorio’s dramatic three-pointer that gave Ginebra an 88-87 win on Sunday.
Tenorio provided not just a lifeline, but an inspiration for the crowd favorites, who atoned for their Game 5 defeat while also erasing multiple double-digit deficits.
Other health concerns
But Cone expects a San Miguel side determined to make up for the blown opportunity, with Fajardo expected to give his all despite being bothered by a calf injury throughout the series. Game 6 saw Fajardo’s 21 points and 16 rebounds go for naught following Tenorio’s winner.
“We’ll take Game 7 as it comes,” said Cone, whose team has its own issue of ailments.
Japeth Aguilar was bothered with cramps during the fourth quarter while Scottie Thompson continues to deal with a hamstring issue.
Both have found ways to produce decent numbers despite health concerns, with Thompson posting 13.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists in the series and Aguilar averaging 13.2 points and 5.3 rebounds.
But going back to the Tenorio shot, Cone has some reason to believe that it could spark something great down the road.
“If by chance we win this championship, everyone will remember [Game 6] … he’s given us a chance,” Cone also said.
Fajardo is averaging 11.2 points and 14.5 rebounds, but his minutes have gone up as the series progressed, and is expected to log heavy minutes regardless of his condition.
CJ Perez, Jericho Cruz, Don Trollano, Rodney Brondial and Mo Tautuaa are seen as crucial in the Beermen’s quest to be the one taking an aim at derailing the Tropang 5G’s march toward history.
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The winner will meet TNT in the title series that will start on Sunday at a venue to be announced at the conclusion of the semifinal decider. The Tropang 5G have the luxury of a long break after finishing off the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Game 6. INQ