Justin Arana Reflects on His Tough Matchup Against June Mar Fajardo in Converge’s 102-95 Loss to San Miguel

In Game 1 of the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals, held on Thursday, September 26, Converge FiberXers’ big man Justin Arana faced a daunting challenge: matching up against six-time PBA MVP and San Miguel Beermen star, June Mar Fajardo. Despite a valiant effort, Converge fell short with a 102-95 loss to the Beermen, and Arana was quick to acknowledge the difficulty of defending one of the most dominant players in Philippine basketball history.

“Guarding June Mar Fajardo is no easy task,” Arana admitted post-game. “He’s not just big; he’s smart, experienced, and knows how to use his size to his advantage. You can never relax when you’re up against him.”

Fajardo, known as “The Kraken,” displayed his usual brilliance, contributing to San Miguel’s victory with a double-double performance that highlighted his incredible skill set and basketball IQ. Arana, however, did his best to hold his ground against the seasoned veteran, putting up a respectable performance on both ends of the floor.

“Going up against him is a learning experience for me,” Arana added. “I know I still have a long way to go, but each time I face him, I take it as an opportunity to improve my game.”

With Converge now trailing 0-1 in the best-of-three quarterfinal series, Arana and his team will need to regroup and come back stronger in the next game. But for Arana, the experience of facing Fajardo is invaluable, and he remains optimistic about continuing to grow as a player by competing against the league’s best.

“Every time you step on the floor against June Mar, you have to bring your A-game. It’s a challenge, but it’s also what makes me better,” he said.

The matchup between Arana and Fajardo remains one of the most intriguing big-man duels in the league, as the young Converge star looks to establish himself while learning from the best.