I still remember the tension in the air during that final quarter of Game 7. As someone who's covered basketball for over a decade, I've witnessed countless championship moments, but this particular PBA Finals matchup between Barangay Ginebra and the Magnolia Hotshots will forever stand out in my memory. The final score of 95-92 doesn't even begin to tell the full story of what unfolded that night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. What made this game particularly fascinating for me was how it mirrored the personal struggles athletes face off the court - something that became painfully relevant when I later learned about June Mar Fajardo's shoulder injury situation.
The game started with both teams showing incredible defensive intensity, but what really caught my attention was how Fajardo seemed to be favoring his left shoulder during certain movements. At the time, I just assumed it was typical game fatigue, but looking back with the knowledge we have now, his supraspinatus tendinitis diagnosis explains so much about his slightly altered shooting form that night. The first half ended with Ginebra leading 48-45, but the real drama was yet to unfold. Statistics showed Fajardo was shooting at 52% from the field in the first half - still impressive, but noticeably below his season average of 58%. As an analyst, these subtle changes in performance metrics often tell a deeper story than the raw numbers themselves.
When the fourth quarter began with the score tied at 72-72, you could feel the entire arena holding its breath. This is where championship legacies are made or broken, and I've always believed the final twelve minutes reveal more about a team's character than the previous three quarters combined. With 7:32 remaining, Fajardo drove to the basket but pulled up short on what should have been an easy layup. The broadcast showed him grimacing as he landed, and I remember thinking something wasn't quite right. Now we know that was the supraspinatus tendinitis flaring up at the worst possible moment. What amazed me was how he adapted his game - instead of forcing shots in the paint, he started facilitating more, ultimately finishing with 8 assists that quarter alone.
The final three minutes were absolute basketball poetry. Scottie Thompson's back-to-back three pointers gave Ginebra a 89-85 lead, but Magnolia wouldn't go away. What impressed me most was how both teams maintained offensive efficiency despite the enormous pressure. They combined for only 2 turnovers in the last five minutes - an incredible statistic given the championship stakes. With 28 seconds left and Ginebra clinging to a 93-92 lead, Fajardo made what I consider the smartest play of the game. Instead of forcing a contested shot, he kicked it out to an open LA Tenorio who drained a clutch jumper from the corner. That decision-making under pressure is what separates good players from legends.
Having covered Fajardo's career since his rookie season, I've seen him play through various injuries, but this supraspinatus tendinitis situation puts his performance in a completely different light. The 31-year-old's revelation about his shoulder condition explains why his rebounding numbers dipped slightly to 11 per game during the finals compared to his regular season average of 13.5. Yet what he lost in raw production, he made up for in basketball IQ and leadership. In my professional opinion, playing through that kind of pain requires not just physical toughness but incredible mental fortitude. I've spoken with enough athletes to know that shoulder injuries particularly affect shooting mechanics and rebounding positioning - two areas where Fajardo still managed to excel when it mattered most.
The celebration that followed Ginebra's victory was particularly emotional, and now understanding Fajardo's physical challenges makes that moment even more meaningful. As confetti rained down and the trophy presentation began, I noticed him carefully rotating his left shoulder while embracing his teammates. At the time, it seemed like a minor gesture, but now we know it was likely providing some relief from the tendinitis discomfort. This championship means more than just another title in the record books - it represents triumph over physical adversity. From my perspective covering Philippine basketball, this ranks among the most impressive individual performances I've witnessed, precisely because we now understand the hidden challenges he overcame.
What this game taught me, and what I hope younger players take away, is that championships aren't just won with perfect health and ideal circumstances. They're won through adaptation, mental toughness, and playing smart when your body isn't at 100%. Fajardo's 22 points and 14 rebounds in Game 7 look impressive on paper, but the real story is how he managed his game around his physical limitations. The final score of 95-92 will be remembered for years, but for those of us who understand the context of his shoulder injury, it represents something much deeper - the beautiful struggle of an athlete pushing through pain to achieve greatness. In my fifteen years of covering basketball, I've learned that the best stories often exist between the lines of the final box score, and this PBA Finals Game 7 perfectly exemplifies that truth.
