It appeared nothing could lift June Mar Fajardo's spirits after the loss to Ginebra in the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup semifinal opener.
June Mar Fajardo was in no mood on the heels of San Miguel's 105-122 loss to Ginebra in their PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup semifinal opener on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Usually jolly regardless of the result of a match, Fajardo looked deflated when he emerged from the locker room and greeted some members of the press at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The 6-foot-10 behemoth, whose team was coming off a grueling quarterfinal series against Converge that went the distance, politely refused requests for an interview.
"Bukas na lang. Wala akong masabi ngayon," said Fajardo, who was the last to leave the dugout.
Fajardo had minimal touches in the gut-wrenching defear where the Beermen went down by as much as 24 points, 78-102.
He only had nine attempts from the field, converting five of those, in 37 minutes and 17 seconds of action.
The eight-time Most Valuable Player, though, still ended up with 16 points and 16 rebounds while also dishing out seven assists and swatting one block.
That did little to lift his spirits, no thanks to import Justin Brownlee whose explosion in the third quarter keyed the Gin Kings' victory.
The naturalized Filipino led Ginebra's furious 34-20 third quarter assault, dropping 20 points on three quadruples there.
Brownlee, whose team beat San Miguel in five playoff pairings since he came onboard in 2016, finished with 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists and a steal.
Brownlee's five total shots from the four-point line were the most by any player in a single game so far, according to league chief statistician Fidel Mangonon.
Fajardo and the rest of the Beermen will have a chance to level the best-of-seven series on Friday, Oct. 11, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Game time is at 7:30 p.m.