Wins are not uncommon for the San Miguel Beermen, but their victory for their opening assignment in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup came without a familiar face. 

The Beermen made their Governors’ Cup debut without June Mar Fajardo, who sat out due to a hyperextended right elbow. But then, playing against the still-winless Macau Giant Pandas was the ideal moment to sit the nine-time PBA MVP. Rodney Brondial did his best Fajardo impression and dominated the paint, while SMB pushed the pace and kept the ball moving with 19 fastbreak points and 29 assists. 

Fajardo has sat out games in the past whether for rest or due to a major injury, but San Miguel has been more cautious as Fajardo continues to log considerable mileage and inch closer to 40. The Beermen are taking a conservative approach with the hope of an extended conference campaign and to let him have a longer career, and their depth allows them to do that. 

Shoring up their perimeter depth with the additions of Jerrick Ahanmisi and George King, SMB has been able to spread the floor further and make life easier for Brondial and Mo Tautuaa. Fajardo will also benefit from this when he returns, but the dynamics could change considering how San Miguel runs options through Fajardo. 

A light start to the Governor’s Cup (i.e., two games in a week with a few games in between versus a jam-packed schedule) and against two teams with a combined 1-4 record as of this writing should help the Beermen ease Fajardo back into the scheme of things and allow them to refine some of their tactics and work on things such as ball security, which was an issue against the Giant Pandas. 

The recent format of the Governor’s Cup also helps given that teams in the same group play each other twice, giving teams like SMB a chance to finetune against their peers. However, that familiarity with opponents may not bode well for the postseason, but then again, PBA teams are so used to each other that winning games can be decided by taking advantage of the situations that may arise during the contests themselves through in-game adjustments. 

When that’s the case, experience is key and for all his recent health issues, June Mar Fajardo remains the San Miguel Beermen’s best asset in the frontcourt. However, the moments Fajardo is on the sidelines are also opportunities for the rest of the Beermen to gain experience. That will be critical not just during the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup but also for life after Fajardo, which is unfortunately inching closer.