Fajardo malabong makalaro sa game 2

MALABO pa ring makalaro si June Mar Fajardo para sa San Miguel Beer sa Game 2 ng Smart BRO PBA Philippine Cup finals mamayang gabi.

Ni anino ni Fajardo ay wala sa Smart Araneta Coliseum noong Linggo para sa Game 1 kung saan natalo ang Beermen kontra Alaska, 100-91.

Ayon kay SMB coach Leo Austria, umuwi kaagad si Fajardo mula sa St. Luke’s Medical Center sa Global City, Taguig pagkatapos na sumailalim siya sa MRI sa kanyang kaliwang tuhod na tumama sa sahig dahil sa tulak ni Jireh Ibanes ng Rain or Shine sa Game 6 ng semifinals noong Biyernes ng gabi.

“According to the doctor, Raul Canlas, he (Fajardo) will be back in the series but I don’t know when. Sometimes, nandoon pa rin ang swelling niya so there’s something wrong. But the doctor also told me that it’s not serious and doesn’t need surgery. Day-to-day basis ang mangyayari sa kanya,” wika ni Austria sa post-game interview pagkatapos ng Game 1.

Dahil wala si Fajardo ay dinomina ng Alaska ang rebounding, 48-28, sa pangunguna nina Vic Manuel at Calvin Abueva na gumawa ng 24 puntos at 13 rebounds, ayon sa pagkakasunod.

Naiulat ng courtside reporter ng TV5 at Radyo Singko na si Mara Aquino na kinausap niya ang isang Dr. Ibanes ng SMB na nagsabi umano na mula dalawa hanggang apat na linggo ang pahinga ni Fajardo dahil masakit pa ang kanyang tuhod at hindi na makapaglalaro sa finals.

“I talked to June Mar and he told me that he could hardly walk dahil he doesn’t want to see his knee swell. I told him not to force it because what’s important is his health. He never stayed in the hospital for more than 24 hours,” ani Austria.

“Maraming mga conflicting reports sa Twitter without asking any authorities. After the MRI, intact ang ACL at PCL at medyo may contusion. The doctor, Raul Canlas, assured me na hindi kailangan ng surgery. Let’s see if he can play. If he’s not 100 percent, I don’t want him to play. Hoping by Friday, puwede but we don’t know yet.”

Kahit wala si Fajardo ay nakontrol ng Beermen ang laro sa unang tatlong quarter at lumamang pa sila, 78-66, sa unang posesyon nila sa huling quarter dahil sa tres ni Yancy de Ocampo bago nakabawi ang Alaska sa pamamagitan ng 9-0 na atake sa huling dalawang minuto upang agawin ang panalo.

“The boxscore is very deceiving because SMB handled us very well for most of the game. Some guys stepped up and made plays late. We even played undersized with Vic and Calvin. They were able to maintain the interior,” sambit ni Alaska coach Alex Compton. “June Mar is a completely different story. He’s a genuinely humble, good kid. I hope he’s OK and we don’t want to see anyone getting hurt. I like to see us beating a team with June Mar but things like this do happen. They (Beermen) have a right not to disclose and if I was them, I won’t disclose this either. We’ll try to prepare on how we will defend against him. Just be thorough and ready. This is a series with rapid adjustments.” ( James Ty III )