Fajardo The PBA presented the Career Achievement Award to June Mar Fajardo for his 2,000 offensive rebounds. Awarding Fajardo are Barangay Ginebra Gov. Alfrancis Chua, and PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial. Also present during the awarding are San Miguel Beer Gov. Robert Non and PBA Board Chairman and TNT Gov. Ricky Vargas. PBA photo

Fajardo, the ‘Kraken”, is tops again

February 21, 2023 Robert Andaya 428 views

SAN Miguel Beer superstar June Mar Fajardo is doing it all.

Fajardo, nicknamed the “Kraken”, added another feather to his cap by becoming the latest member of the 2,000 offensive rebound-club in the PBA.

The 6-11 Fajardo achieved the milestone during the San Miguel’s inspiring 102-99 victory over defending champion Barangay Ginebra in the Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Feb.17.

Fajardo grabbed a total of 18 rebounds, including 12 offensive, in the win

The 33-year-old pride of Compostela, Cebu thus became only sixth player in league history to grab 2,000 offensive rebounds, joining four-time MVP Ramon Fernandez, Abet Guidaben, Jerry Codinera,Asi Taulava and Ali Peek.

Fajardo made the milestone early in the game when he grabbed the rebound to score his first basket.

Last Sunday.Fajardo was honored by the league for his latest feat, getting a special-crafted plaque with a basketball design at halftime of the San Miguel-TNT match at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial led the brief awarding ceremony in the presence of Board chairman Ricky Vargas and governors Robert Non of San Miguel and Barangay Ginebra’s Alfrancis Chua.

Fajardo is elated with the latest feat he achieved in his legendary career.

“Masaya ako na nakakuha ako ng ganun (award). Thankful ako na nakaka-break ako ng records,” said the San Miguel star.

In all, Fajardo now has total of 2,023 offensive rebounds and counting.

TNT, however, spoiled Fajardo’s big night by beating San Miguel, 105-103, on Calvin Oftana’s game-winning basket at the buzzer.

Oftana grabbed the rwbound following a miss by import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and hit the game-winner over Rodney Brondial and CJ Perez as time expired.

With the win, the Tropang Giga extended their streak to six games and wrest the solo lead with an 8-1 win-lossrecord.

The Beermen dropped to second at 7-2.

Both TNT and San Miguel will now shift their focus on their coming EASL Champions Week stints in Japan.

They resume their PBA campaigns in the last two play dates of the Governors’ Cup elims by mid-March.

The scores:

TNT (105) – Castro 21, Hollis-Jefferson 19, K.Williams 16, Oftana 14, M.Williams 11, Chua 8, Khobuntin 8, Varilla 4, Montalbo 4.
San Miguel (103) – Clark 30, Perez 25, Fajardo 12, Cruz 10, Manuel 8, Tautuaa 6, Enciso 5, Lassiter 4, Bualandi 3, Brondial 0, Ross 0, Brondial 0.
Quarterscores: 24-20, 49-48, 83-77, 105-103.

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