‘Time ng Meralco mag-champion’: Seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo gracious in defeat as Bolts seize breakthrough PBA crown

One by one, June Mar Fajardo gave each Meralco Bolt a hug as confetti rained down on them on Sunday night, June 17, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Earlier, Fajardo nailed the go-ahead triple with three seconds left on the clock to even terms at 78 apiece after San Miguel trailed by 11 in the fourth period.

Chris Newsome responded with a shot he made a thousand times in practice — a fallaway jumper baseline — as the Bolts bested San Miguel, 80-78 in Game 6 of the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup and for their breakthrough title.

[RELATED STORY: PBA: Chris Newsome drills championship winner as Meralco dethrones San Miguel as Philippine Cup champion]

After Meralco made the mighty Beermen look like mere mortals in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup finale that was nothing short of epic, Fajardo, winner of 10 Best Player of the Conference plums, remained gracious in defeat.

“Ganun talaga ang sports. Kailangan nating tanggapin 'yung pagkatalo natin. Maybe, time naman ng Meralco na mag-champion ngayon, 'di ba?” said the 6-foot-10 behemoth. 

“Palakpakan natin 'yung dapat palakpakan, i-congratulate natin 'yung dapat i-congratulate.”

The seven-time MVP made one last-ditch effort to snatch the win and force a rubber match, but his last three-point attempt from the right elbow was a little too strong.

“Ganda sana pero wala, talo eh. Memorable 'yun para sa akin. Lalo na kung nashoot ko 'yung huli. Pero 'yun nga, bawi na lang kami next conference,” he said.

[ALSO READ: PBA: Chris Newsome earns Finals MVP honors after leading Meralco to breakthrough title]

As headstrong as he was, Fajardo admitted feeling a twinge in his heart when the final buzzer howled and the Meralco gallery went in frenzy.

But for now, the Cebu native is letting Meralco bask in the glory. 

“Masakit man na natalo pero ganun talaga 'yung buhay. Nanalo kami ilang championships, 'di ba, pero maybe time na rin ng Meralco ngayon. 'Yung talbog ng bola, nandun sa kanila. Baka naka-tadhana sa kanila 'yung championship na 'to,” he said.

“Congratulate natin 'yung Meralco, ganda rin nang nilaro nila. Sa San Miguel naman, kami naman, heads up lang kasi hindi pa naman end of the world para sa amin e. May next conference pa naman so pwede kami mag-bounce back doon.”

[ALSO READ: PBA: Allein Maliksi savors ‘sweetest’ championship with Meralco]