Beating a stacked San Miguel Beer has never been an easy task.
It gets even more challenging when center June Mar Fajardo churns out monster numbers.
Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone breathed a sigh of relief after overcoming Fajardo’s 20-20 production in a 99-90 escape to draw first blood in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The nine-time Most Valuable Player wreaked havoc with 27 points and 23 rebounds to go with three assists, a steal and a block in 40 minutes of action.
Fortunately for the Kings, they converted crucial baskets down the stretch to survive Fajardo’s basketball clinic and draw first blood in their all-Filipino conference semis rematch.
“You don’t win very many games when June Mar has, what, 27 points and 23 rebounds,” Cone said.
“You don’t beat San Miguel very often, so, you know, this was one we had to really battle.”
Fajardo shot 11-of-14 from the field and grabbed 10 offensive boards although the 6-foot-10 behemoth struggled from the foul line with a 5-of-12 freethrow shooting.
Cone admitted Ginebra had a hard time matching up with the 12-time Best Player of the Conference winner.
In fact, Kings big men Japeth Aguilar and Norbert Torres got into foul trouble trying to defend Fajardo.
“Both our big guys got into foul trouble. Both of them had five fouls, and they did the best they could (defending Fajardo). Still, June Mar gets 27 and 23. Just amazing that he’s just that kind of player,” Cone said.
“Well, we obviously played a tag team on him with Japeth and Norbert. And, you know, it’s just about multiple efforts against him because you can’t just do one effort against him and expect to stop him,” he added.
It’s about multiple efforts, and it’s physically daunting to guard a guy that big and that strong and keep him from his position. So, you know, our guys, both of them, Japeth and Norbert, were exhausted just trying to guard the same guy.”
Cone praised his Gilas Pilipinas player, who did not take a rest in the payoff period, but was happier with Ginebra taking the victory.