In his ususal scoring self yet again, San Miguel slotman June Mar Fajardo earned this week's Player of the Week honors. Rick Johnsen Dela Cruz/Dugout Philippines
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By Ricky Manliguis
MANILA—After losing three straight
games, who better San Miguel rely on redemption than its most dominant force.
June Mar Fajardo heeded the call and was instrumental in
the defending champions’ sudden surge, earning him the PBA Rush-PBA Press Corps
Player of the Week for the period of May 28-June 3.
The four-time Most Valuable Player
averaged 16.5 points, 16 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 blocks in SMB’s
back-to-back wins opposite Phoenix and crowd darlings Barangay Ginebra San
Miguel for a 2-3 win-loss card.
Despite being under the weather,
Fajardo made his presence felt with a nine-point, 13-rebound, four-assist, and
two-block performance in the team’s 106-94 victory over the Fuel Masters on May
30.
[Related Story: SMB barges into win column, upends Fuel Masters]
[Related Story: SMB barges into win column, upends Fuel Masters]
The 6-10 Cebuano then redeemed himself
on Sunday, muscling his way to 24 points and 19 boards, including the mid-range
jumper that sent the game into overtime, as the Beermen silenced Ginebra,
104-97.
[Related Story: SMB holds on to beat Ginebra in OT]
[Related Story: SMB holds on to beat Ginebra in OT]
“Sabi ko, ‘Sana
pumasok para mag-tie’ Ayun, pumasok, so swerte. Ganun talaga. Andyan lang ang
suwerte paminsan-minsan,” said Fajardo on the last-second shot against the Gins
that the game at 93-all.
Fajardo won the citation ahead of
teammate Arwind Santos, TNT’s Terrence Romeo and
Jericho Cruz, Rain or Shine slotman Raymond Almazan, Alaska’s Vic Manuel and
Chris Banchero as well as Meralco’s Chris Newsome and Anjo Caram.
The Beermen will ride on the momentum as
it faces the skidding Columbian Dyip on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta
Coliseum.
“Sana [magtuluy-tuloy], pero malalakas yung
kalaban. Try namin yung best namin na makuha namin yung maraming panalo—one game
at a time,” the soft-spoken giant added.
Follow him on Twitter: @Teaching_Hero