Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — San Miguel Beer star June Mar Fajardo hurt his knee in the third quarter of Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Friday (January 15).
But it hardly mattered, as the rest of the Beermen stepped up to outlast Rain or Shine, 90-82, and earn a return trip to the finals of the opening conference.
San Miguel Beer will face the Alaska Aces in the best-of-seven finals that will kick off on Sunday.
“I’m sad with what happened to June Mar,” said San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria. “But I’m glad everybody stepped up after that.”
Fajardo had 14 points and 12 boards before he injured his left knee in a rebound play against Rain or Shine’s Jireh Ibañez with 7:11 left in the penultimate period.
But Marcio Lassiter and Arwind Santos picked up where he left off, combining for 37 points to keep the Beermen afloat.
