Fajardo’s Dominance in the Paint Makes His Team Too Predictable: A Tactical Limitation?
June Mar Fajardo has long been the backbone of the San Miguel Beermen, dominating the paint with his size, strength, and rebounding ability. His impressive low-post moves and scoring inside have made him one of the most effective centers in PBA history. However, there is a growing debate in the basketball community regarding the San Miguel Beermen’s overreliance on Fajardo, and whether this makes the team’s tactics too predictable.
The Predictability of Fajardo’s Game
Fajardo’s game is built around his power and presence in the paint. His ability to score under the basket, grab rebounds, and protect the rim has been a significant part of the Beermen’s winning formula. For years, San Miguel has built its offense around Fajardo, feeding him the ball in the low post and allowing him to either score or create opportunities for teammates.
However, critics argue that the heavy focus on Fajardo in San Miguel’s offense has made their tactics predictable. The Beermen’s offensive flow often revolves around getting the ball to Fajardo, who then makes a decision on whether to score or pass. While this strategy has worked for much of his career, it also plays into the hands of strong defensive teams that can focus on limiting Fajardo’s impact. Once opposing teams figure out how to defend Fajardo, San Miguel’s offense often struggles to find other avenues of attack.
The Importance of Defensive Schemes
When Fajardo is the focal point of San Miguel’s offense, opposing defenses tend to build their entire game plan around him. Teams will double-team him in the post, collapse the paint, and force the Beermen to rely on outside shooting. With a lack of perimeter threats at times, it becomes easier for defenses to control the game.
In some of San Miguel’s most challenging matchups, when Fajardo is effectively contained, the team’s offensive production has dropped, revealing a vulnerability in their game plan. If opposing defenses can successfully neutralize Fajardo and limit his ability to dominate inside, San Miguel’s offensive play becomes one-dimensional, and they struggle to adjust.
A Need for Greater Flexibility
While Fajardo’s dominance has unquestionably helped San Miguel win numerous titles, it has also led to criticisms about the team’s lack of offensive versatility. With Fajardo’s style of play being so centered around physicality and low-post dominance, the Beermen have often failed to diversify their attack. This lack of flexibility could be a major issue when facing teams with a strong defensive presence.
To remain competitive in the modern PBA, San Miguel may need to find ways to balance their offensive game. This could include integrating more perimeter shooting, creating more opportunities for their guards and wings to contribute, and running more fluid offensive sets that don’t rely entirely on Fajardo’s inside game. If the Beermen can develop a more well-rounded offensive approach, they will be much harder to predict and defend against.
The Long-Term Impact on the Beermen
In high-level basketball, versatility is often the key to success. The best teams are those that can adapt to different defensive strategies and adjust their tactics in real-time. San Miguel’s heavy reliance on Fajardo may work in some games, but against elite teams, it could become a liability.
If the Beermen fail to develop a more unpredictable offense, they may struggle to maintain their dominance in the long term. Teams in the PBA are becoming increasingly adept at defending star players, and relying too much on one player—no matter how talented—can be a dangerous strategy. The Beermen’s ability to adjust their approach and find new avenues of attack will be crucial for future success.
Conclusion
June Mar Fajardo’s dominance in the paint has been one of the most impressive aspects of his career and a cornerstone of San Miguel Beermen’s strategy. However, as the PBA evolves and other teams become more adept at neutralizing such an inside-focused style of play, the Beermen’s tactics have become more predictable. The challenge for San Miguel moving forward will be to diversify their offense and develop more flexibility in their approach. Without that, the team risks becoming too reliant on Fajardo, leaving them vulnerable to teams that can successfully counter his dominance in the paint.
