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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
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04
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20
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2024
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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
04
20
2024
The 2015 PBA Governors’ Cup champion San Miguel Beermen. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.NET
Arizona Reid outclassed Romeo Travis for one last time, June Mar Fajardo asserted his dominance yet again and San Miguel Beer completed a mighty four-game sweep of Alaska Milk to nail its 21st PBA championship before a crowd of over 12,000 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.
Largely behind the sterling games of Reid and Fajardo, the Beermen walloped the Aces, 91-81, to capture the 2015 PBA Governors Cup title.
Reid sparkled with a game-high 33 points spiked by six three-pointers while Fajardo powered his way to 19 points and 21 rebounds as the Beermen smothered the Aces for a fourth straight game and romped off with their second crown of the season.
“The glory days of San Miguel Beer is really back,” said San Miguel Beer official Robert Non during their championship celebration.
It was a historic moment marking the first time San Miguel Beer – for all its championships – scored a 4-0 sweep in the Finals. The Beermen became the fifth team to do the feat after Northern Cement, Swift Mighty Meaty, Purefoods and Talk ‘N Text.
And it’s a first double-championship in a season for the franchise since coach Jong Uichico steered the Beermen to the Commissioner’s Cup and Governors Cup title runs in 2000.
It’s extra special for Fajardo and Reid.
The championship came after Fajardo won four awards in the Leo Awards earlier.
“Naging mas masarap ang pagkakapanalo ko ng MVP trophy ko,” said Fajardo, who, before the game was bestowed his second straight MVP award.
With his regular double-double numbers, the Cebuano giant was also rewarded with the Holcim Cement-PBA Press Corps Finals MVP plum.
Twice Best Import awardee but never a champion in his four previous tours of duty in the local pro league, Reid accomplished his personal mission to finally win a PBA title.
“I’d been shooting for years. I finally got one,” said Reid.
Reid struck hard in the third period then Fajardo took over in the fourth as the Beermen overcame a 14-point first-half deficit, practically repeating their wins in Games 2 and 3.
“Hindi ko alam kung paano namin nagawa ang sweep. It’s all about the players and their great resolve. Tatlong come-from-behind victories – yun ang nagbigay special meaning sa championship na ito,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.
“Of course, special ang Philippine Cup dahil yun ang premiere conference ng liga. Naging special rin ito considering 0-2 kami sa start ng conference, then tinalo kami ng Meralco in the first game of the quarters,” said Austria.
Now a two-time PBA champion coach, Austria also gave credit to the Aces for the fight that they put up.
Alaska made a tough stand but San Miguel just proved to be the better team.
Romeo Travis and their second unit found a good rhythm in the second quarter, pounding the Beermen, 32-19, and enjoying the lead, 49-37, at the turn.
The Aces led by as many as 14 at 49-35 but the Beermen made a turnaround in the third period, spurting ahead at 58-57 on an 11-0 roll.
Reid fired away back-to-back treys in two separate occasions and totalled 16 points in a torrid third-quarter shooting that gave the Beermen a 70-65 advantage going into the final canto.
Then it was Fajardo’s time in the last 12 minutes – helping the Beermen pull away, 81-65, en route to a sweep.
The Scores:
SAN MIGUEL 91 – Reid 33, Fajardo 19, Lassiter 12, Espinas 8, Santos 6, Cabagnot 5, Ross 3, Semerad 3, Lutz 2, Tubid 0.
ALASKA 81 – Abueva 22, Travis 15, Thoss 13, Baguio 7, Exciminiano 7, Casio 5, Menk 4, Banchero 3, Jazul 3, Dela Rosa 2, Manuel 0, Hontiveros 0.
Quarters: 18-17, 37-49, 70-65, 91-81.
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