SAN Miguel Beer star center June Mar Fajardo isn’t expecting a walk in the park on Saturday when the Beermen face off with the TNT Tropang 5G, who have NBA veteran big man Bol Bol leading the way in their PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup match.
The 6-foot-10 Fajardo has been the most dominant player in the PBA for the last decade, as evidenced by the 12 championships he won, his nine league Most Valuable Player awards, 13 Best Player of the Conference plums and five Finals MVPs.
But on Saturday, Fajardo admitted that the Beermen will be tested by the Tropang 5G, who many basketball fans believe are the top bet to reign supreme in the midseason conference due to the presence of the 7-foot-3 Bol.
The 36-year-old Fajardo said he has no plans carrying the defensive weight on his own, noting that basketball remains a team sport.
“For sure, we will be challenged, but the game is 5-on-5. Not played 1-on-1,” Fajardo said in Filipino. “If ever I get to match-up with Bol, I’ll give my best and try to stop him. If ever I don’t get to totally stop him, at least I’ll try to limit him.”
Bol, who spent six NBA seasons playing for the Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns, averaged 39 points, 15.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks in TNT’s first two games.
TNT fell short to Rain or Shine, 112-109, after blowing a double-digit lead, but managed to bounce back with a 103-97 win against NLEX behind Bol’s 40-point, 15-rebound effort.
Fajardo is also coming off a big game last Wednesday, leading San Miguel to a 103-99 win against Converge after posting import-like numbers of 27 points and 17 rebounds.
The win marked the Beermen’s first for the conference after suffering a 112-119 loss to the Titan Ultra Giant Risers. RICHARD DY