SAN Miguel can heave a sigh of relief as main man June Mar Fajardo didn't suffer any major injury in Game 1 of its PBA Philippine Cup semifinals against Barangay Ginebra.
The eight-time MVP is just bothered by a tight calf that rendered him at less than 100 percent in the 73-71 loss in the series opener Wednesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Words coming out of the Beermen camp had Fajardo affected by a tightening of his calf after undergoing ultrasound the day following the Game 1 loss.
Although given the go-signal to play in Game 2, the Beermen are taking things with precaution so as not to further aggravate the injury.
Fajardo suffered the injury early in the fourth quarter and had to be taken out of the game by coach Leo Austria, before fielding him back in the home stretch when Ginebra came closing in against the top seeded team after trailing by as much as 18 points in the second quarter.
Sponsored content:
The 6-foot-10 Fajardo actually had a chance to give San Miguel back the lead as it trailed, 72-71, in the final four seconds, only for Japeth Aguilar to block his short undergoal stab.
He finished with only six points, but grabbed 19 monster rebounds.
According to PBA resident statistician Fidel Mangonon III, the Beermen's total output of 71 was the lowest in a game by San Miguel with Fajardo around in more than a decade, or since Game 3 of the 2014-15 Philippine Cup finals against Alaska in a 78-70 loss.(RG)
