As a longtime PBA analyst who’s followed every twist and turn of the Governors’ Cup over the years, I’ve got to say—this 2022 season finale has been one for the books. The intensity, the stakes, the sheer unpredictability of it all… it’s what keeps fans like me glued to our screens, season after season. And right now, all eyes are on June Mar Fajardo. If Fajardo goes on to win, it is going to be the first time this season the award will go to a finalist. Of course, a victory in Game 4 will make the evening extra special for 'The Kraken.' I’ve watched him evolve from a promising rookie into the league’s most dominant big man, and seeing him on the brink of another historic moment feels almost cinematic.

Let’s rewind a bit. The 2022 PBA Governors’ Cup schedule was packed from the get-go—a total of 48 elimination round games, if I remember correctly, spread across 10 teams battling for just six playoff spots. The matchups were relentless: Ginebra versus Magnolia, TNT against San Miguel, Meralco taking on NLEX. I remember thinking early on how the compressed schedule—thanks to lingering pandemic delays—was going to test these teams’ depth and stamina. And boy, did it ever. By mid-tournament, injuries were piling up. Key players were logging 38, 40 minutes a night. You could feel the physical toll in every possession, especially in those back-to-back games at the Araneta Coliseum.

But that’s what made the playoffs so compelling. The semifinal clashes weren’t just about skill—they were about survival. San Miguel’s path, for instance, was brutal. They faced a gritty Rain or Shine squad that pushed them to the limit in a best-of-five that went the full distance. I was courtside for Game 3 of that series, and the energy was electric. Fajardo dropped 28 points and 15 rebounds that night, but it was his defense in the final two minutes that sealed it. Moments like that remind you why he’s a six-time MVP. And now, here we are, with the championship on the line and Fajardo potentially adding another layer to his legacy.

Looking at the finals schedule, the league did a solid job spacing out the games to allow for recovery—Game 1 on March 22, Game 2 on the 24th, Game 3 on the 27th, and now this pivotal Game 4 set for April 1. Attendance has been climbing steadily, too. Game 1 drew around 12,500 fans, and by Game 3, we were looking at nearly 16,000. The atmosphere is just different when the Beermen are in the finals. You’ve got that sea of red in the stands, the chants, the palpable tension every time Fajardo touches the ball in the paint. And let’s be real—the matchup against Barangay Ginebra has been pure theater. Justin Brownlee versus Fajardo is the kind of duel you tell your grandkids about.

Now, about that reference to Fajardo possibly winning an award as a finalist—it’s huge. In a season where individual honors often went to players on eliminated teams, seeing Fajardo in contention for, say, the Best Player of the Conference or Finals MVP as part of the championship series adds a narrative weight you don’t always get. I’ve crunched the numbers: his playoff averages sit at around 24.3 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game. If he maintains that through Game 4 and lifts the trophy, he’s not just winning—he’s redefining what it means to deliver when it matters most. And honestly? I’m rooting for him. The league benefits when its superstars shine on the biggest stage.

Of course, it hasn’t been a one-man show. CJ Perez has been explosive, Chris Ross is still hitting clutch threes, and the coaching adjustments from Leo Austria have been sharp. But Fajardo is the centerpiece. When he’s dominant, San Miguel is almost unstoppable. I remember talking to a scout back in January who predicted that the Governors’ Cup would hinge on Fajardo’s health and form. Looks like he nailed it. The way Fajardo has bounced back from past injuries—that fractured tibia in 2019, for instance—shows a level of resilience you just have to admire.

As we head into Game 4, the stakes couldn’t be higher. A win seals the championship and etches another line in Fajardo’s storied career. A loss, and suddenly the series is tied, momentum shifts, and we’re looking at a whole new ballgame. From a fan’s perspective, I hope we get the fairy-tale ending. The PBA has given us plenty of memorable moments this conference, but a Fajardo-led title clincher would be the perfect cap. So mark your calendars, set those reminders. However this ends, the 2022 Governors’ Cup has already cemented itself as one of the most dramatic in recent memory—and I, for one, can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.