San Miguel Beer’s title aspirations took a huge blow following a knee injury to star big man June Mar Fajardo but the rest of the Beermen are not losing hope in seeing their main man return should they go deep into the playoffs.

June Mar Fajardo is diagnosed with a grade 3 MCL injury on his knee, sidelining him for at least six weeks (PBA Image)

Fajardo was diagnosed with a Grade 3 medial collateral ligament injury on his knee which would sideline him for at least six weeks. The SMB big man sustained the injury in his team’s first game in the EASL Champions Week tournament in Japan last week. It was also the reason why Fajardo also missed this year's All-Star Weekend in Passi City, Iloilo.

Team manager Gee Abanilla confirmed Fajardo’s injury although he expressed hope that the SMB big man could still make a return this conference especially if the Beermen manage to survive the early round of the playoffs without him.

“Sana naman makahabol. Out for about 6 weeks daw e but you can never tell. Baka madaan ni June Mar sa sipag at correct rehab,” Abanilla told Manila Bulletin through a text message.

Sans Fajardo, the Beermen wrapped up the EASL tournament winless with blowout losses at the hands of Japan’s Ryukyu Golden Kings and Korea’s Anyang KGC.

SMB still has two more games to play in the elimination in the league’s return from the All-Star break. It currently sits at the solo third spot of the standings with a 7-2 record although it still needs a victory in one of its remaining games to secure a place in the top 4 spot and the twice-to-beat advantage in the playoffs.

The 2022 PBA Philippine Cup champions will get their first test without Fajardo when they take on the NLEX Road Warriors on Wednesday, March 15,  before closing out the eliminations with a game against the also-ran Rain or Shine.