June Mar Fajardo is cleared to play after suffering a calf injury in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals opener. But he remains a game-time decision for San Miguel against Ginebra.
After narrowly falling in Game 1, San Miguel Beermen will look to regroup and even the series when they take on the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in Game 2 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals on Friday, June 27.
Gametime is set at 5 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The game will be streamed live on One Sports’ YouTube channel.
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Ginebra escaped with a tight 73-71 win on Wednesday, June 25, to take a 1-0 series lead, with San Miguel’s bid hampered by the limited mobility of cornerstone June Mar Fajardo, who was nursing a calf injury.
The eight-time MVP still grabbed 19 rebounds, but was held to just six points. Though cleared to play, it remains uncertain if Fajardo will suit up for Game 2.
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Should head coach Leo Austria opt to rest his star center, the pressure shifts to CJay Perez, who tallied 21 points, seven rebounds, and two assists in the narrow loss. He will need continued support from Don Trollano and Mo Tautuaa as the Beermen attempt to avoid a 0-2 hole in this best-of-seven affair.
San Miguel is known for its resilience, but without a fully healthy Fajardo, its championship mettle will be tested early in this semifinal series.
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(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]