PBA: June Mar hopes for less physical Game Three between SMB, Alaska

June Mar Fajardo is pleased that San Miguel Beer successfully bounced back from their previous game meltdown against Alaska, taking back Game two of their Philippine Cup finals series, 100-86, on Friday.

The reigning Most Valuable Player, however, hoped that the next game would be less physical than Friday's match-up, which saw Arwind Santos bleed in the head after an encounter in the low post with Calvin Abueva in the third quarter.

Santos and The Beast were all over each other during the game, pushing, shoving and taunting the other on the court. Fajardo himself had a run-in with Abueva, slightly hurting his back in the process.

"Sana next game ganun pa rin pero less physical naman. Ang gulo kanina e, parang nasa riot," the 6-foot-11 slotman told reporters after the game. ""Parang hindi na basketball e. Wala tayong magawa, finals e."

Alaska big man Vic Manuel also slapped with flagrant foul penalty one after wrapping an arm around David Semerad's neck in the third quarter, while the San Miguel rookie had a heated tussle with Alaska shooter Dondon Hontiveros which had to be controlled by the entire bench of both teams in addition to the referees.

The Kraken himself dealt a hard elbow in a rebound play to his fellow University of Cebu alumni Hontiveros, sending the veteran shooting guard to the floor.

"Naguiguilty nga ako e, hindi ko naman gawain 'yun," he said of the incident. "Hindi ko naman sinasadya."

Fajardo said he did not notice his UC senior nearby when he battled for the rebound, and only saw him when he already fell down.

With all the physicality of the game, the "gentle giant" said he hopes for it to be toned down as the series progresses, worried about the safety of his fellow players.

"Sana 'di na aabot sa magsusuntukan na," Fajardo said of the physicality of the game. "Sana di na aabot sa may mai-injury na." — JST, GMA News