‘Ready lang palagi’: Brondial shines in Fajardo’s absence as Beermen rout Giant Pandas

MANILA, Philippines — No June Mar, no problem. 

As San Miguel played without big man June Mar Fajardo, Rodney Brondial stood tall in their PBA Governors’ Cup debut Tuesday evening. 

Brondial had a statline to remember, finishing with 25 rebounds, 10 points, seven assists, four steals and a block in 32 minutes and 42 seconds of play in San Miguel’s 123-109 victory over the Macau Giant Pandas Tuesday evening at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. 

Brondial filled the shoes of Fajardo, who was ailing with an injury he sustained from playing with Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. 

After the game, the former Adamson Soaring Falcon said he just made the most out of the opportunities he had. 

“Ready lang ako palagi kung ano lang yung opportunity na binibigay sa akin, kinukuha ko lang naman. Nagkataon kasi na may opportunity na tumakbo,” Brondial said.

“Ang sarap kasing pasahan yung mga teammates ko, like si Jerrick [Ahanmisi] sobrang shooter. Pag pinasa mo parang sure ball assist na eh. So credit din sa kanila siguro,” he added.

Fajardo was not the only Beermen who was not with the team on Tuesday. Head coach Leo Austria was also absent for feeling under the weather. 

Assistant coach Peter Martin said the team wanted to go on the run on the fast break with Fajardo not suiting up in the game. 

“We wanted to move the ball. The easiest way to move the ball is kapag nag-fast break kami. Pinagsamantalahan namin na wala pa si June Mar,” Martin said. 

“Kasi pagdating ni Junmar, pabagal kami nang konti. Pero gusto namin nandito siya,” he added. 

“Pero mukhang okay naman ginawa ni Rodney, 25 rebounds. It's like a regular average day of June Mar so we'll take that.”

Led by import George King, San Miguel made 48-of-88 attempts from the floor, good for 54.5% shooting. The team also had 29 assists in the ballgame.

“I think something else we want also we saw is the 29 assists. We're trying to change the culture, we're trying to reach sharing the ball,” Martin said. 

“Of course there will be times na hindi nila alam ang gagawin nila. Kanina nagagalit na nga ako kay Don [Trollano] kasi panira na, naghahanap pa ng papasahan which is umu-over naman so sakto-sakto lang sana.” 

King finished with 30 points, to go with seven assists and five rebounds. He shot 10-of-16 from the floor. CJ Perez added 21 markers while Jericho Cruz had 20. New acquisition Ahanmisi had 16 points for San Miguel as well. 

Dre Perry top-scored Macau with 25 points along with 14 rebounds. Damian Chong Qui and Kobey Lam had 22 points each for the Giant Pandas, who fell to 0-2 in the import-laden conference.