MATINDING depensa ang inilatag ni Jhonard Clarito ng Rain or Shine laban kay June Mar Fajardo ng San Miguel sa Game 1 ng kanilang PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals duel noong Biyernes sa SM Mall of Asia Arena. PBA PHOTO
Mga laro ngayon:
(Mall of Asia Arena)
3 p.m. – Ginebra vs Meralco
6:15 p.m. – San Miguel vs Rain or Shine
MULING sasandal ang San Miguel kay June Mar Fajardo para makaulit laban sa Rain or Shine sa Game 2 ng kanilang PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series.
Nakatakda ang laro sa alas-3 ng hapon sa Mall of Asia Arena, kung saan inaasahang muling magiging tinik si Fajardo sa kampanya ng Elasto Painters.
Ang 6-foot-10 veteran ay nagpakawala ng 23 points, 11 rebounds, at 5 assists habang bumuslo ng 72 percent mula sa floor sa 101-98 panalo ng Beermen noong Biyernes sa series opener sa MoA Arena.
Ayon kay San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent, ang simpleng game plan ng koponan ay ang pasahan ng bola si Fajardo sa loob, at bahala na ang seven-time MVP.
“We have to take advantage of what we have. We have June Mar. We have to evolve through him,” sabi ni Gallent sa post-game presser.
“That was the game plan, to give the ball to June Mar.”
Sang-ayon si Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao sa kanyang San Miguel counterpart, inamin na si Fajardo ang nagpahirap sa koponan sa Game 1.
“When you play San Miguel naman your biggest problem talaga is ‘yung June Mar match up. A lot of their scoring opportunities come off that post play,” anang veteran coach
“So every time he touches the ball at the low post and he would take a shot, that’s almost like a sure shot.”
Ang efficient shooting ni Fajardo mula sa field ang pumigil din sa Rain or Shine sa kanilang running game laban sa defending champions.
“I think we should push the game faster because we’re not going to beat San Miguel playing halfcourt offense. So that’s another area of adjustment. We have to push harder going downcourt for our transition,” dagdag ni Guiao, na ang koponan ay mayroon lamang 10 fastbreak points laban sa Beermen. Siyempre ay prayoridad pa rin ang pigilan si Fajardo.
“I think we need to find a solution to that because 72 percent from there (post) is just too efficient. We have to make him work harder,” sabi ni Guiao.
CLYDE MARIANO
