PBA Finals: San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo has interesting motivation in title clash against Magnolia

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 21) — San Miguel Beermen big man June Mar Fajardo remembers his first PBA championship heartbreak like it just happened yesterday.

Fajardo was the prized rookie of then-Petron Blaze Boosters (now San Miguel Beermen) who went up against then-San Mig Coffee Mixers (now Magnolia Hotshots) in the 2013 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals.

The gentle giant from Cebu — drafted as the top pick in the 2012 Draft by the Blaze Boosters — proved he was the real deal.

But the Coffee Mixers outclassed Petron in seven games to overshadow Fajardo’s stellar rookie season.

Fast forward to this year’s Philippine Cup Finals versus the same squad who spoiled his first crack in winning a pro title, Fajardo said this is the perfect time to avenge the painful experience.

“Di ko talaga makakalimutan yung rookie year ko, yung Magnolia yung first championship heartbreak ko. Pinaiyak talaga nila ako. Ito na siguro yung time na makabawi ako,” he said in a media briefing Wednesday in Quezon City.

[Translation: I still can’t forget Magnolia gave me my first championship heartbreak in my rookie year. They really made me cry. I think this is my payback time.]

Despite being the favored side in the series, Fajardo vows that San Miguel will put everything they got on the table to capture their fourth straight All-Filipino conference crown — a feat no team has accomplished in the league’s 43 year history.

“Bibigay namin yung best namin para makuha yung championship,” he said.

[Translation: We will give our best to win the championship.]

Game 1 of the best-of-seven affair between the Beermen and Hotshots is scheduled on March 23 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.