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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Tim Cone hopes to wear down 'amazing' Fajardo

Tim Cone hopes to wear down 'amazing' Fajardo

Published Jan 6, 2026 02:32 pm

At A Glance

  • They might be at the opposing sides of the court but Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone just couldn't help but to be amazed by the monster effort of June Mar Fajardo.
They might be at the opposing sides of the court but Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone just couldn’t help but be amazed by the monster effort of June Mar Fajardo.
Although the Kings had their defensive game plan against the nine-time Most Valuable Player, Fajardo still put up 27 points and 23 rebounds — a performance Cone was happy Ginebra had survived through a 99-90 Game 1 win.
“We're happy to be able to pull this one out despite June Mar having a big game,” said Cone after the game. “You don't win very many games when June Mar has, what, 27 points and 23 rebounds."
"You don't beat San Miguel very often. This was one we had to really battle. Both our big guys got into foul trouble. Both of them had 5 fouls and they did the best they could. Still, June Mar gets 27 and 23,” he added.
“Just amazing that he's just that kind of player.”
But there were no moral victories for Fajardo in putting up such numbers if not coming out with the win. And the loss may have even poked the bear as the Best Player of the Conference frontrunner now looked more motivated to bounce back.
“Kulang pa rin yon kasi talo kami eh,” said the Cebuano gentle giant
“Bounce back na lang kami kailangan namin mag regroup. Long series ito di pa naman matatapos sa ganito,” he added.
Bracing for another big game for Fajardo, Cone is hoping that the twin towers of Japeth Aguilar and Norbert Torres would continue to hold up as they once again try to make things difficult for the SMB star inside the paint.
“It’s physically daunting to guard a guy that big and that strong and keep him from his position. Our guys, both of them, Japeth and Norbert, were exhausted just trying to guard the same guy. And, again, it's a credit to June Mar how good he is and, you know, how good he's been,” Cone said of Fajardo.
“We just go out there and Japeth and Norbert are going to continue to battle.And hopefully, maybe we can wear him down over seven games. But we said that last series, remember that? We said that in the last series, it didn't work. We lost in seven games.” he added.
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