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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
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04
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25
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2024
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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
04
25
2024
With import Arizona Reid confined behind the SMB bench, June Mar Fajardo and his teammate kept their mastery of the Alaska Milk Aces.
Fajardo carried much of the load as the San Miguel Beermen overcame the absence of Reid and a 12-point deficit late in the third, repulsing the Aces, 106-103, to regain a piece of second place in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.
Alex Cabagnot knocked in a crucial pair of triples in the last two minutes while Chris Ross blocked a game-tying three-point attempt by LaDontae Henton at the buzzer, helping the Beermen defy the odds and in the process move back to joint second with the Barangay Ginebra Kings and the Mahindra Enforcers at 5-2.
“It’s a huge, huge one for us because we played without an import. Good thing, all the players were challenged and stepped up in the contest,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.
“We didn’t sack AZ contrary to some reports. We love him as we won a championship with him. But we can’t force him to play (as he’s injured),” Austria also said.
With Reid’s playing status uncertain, Austria said the team would try to bring in a temporary import replacement in the next few days.
“The guys proved we could win without an import. They proved we could win without relying to anyone but on a team effort. Pero kailangan namin maghanap ng insurance import for the playoffs,” Austria pointed out.
Fajardo played as their veritable import, collecting a personal conference high of 37 points that went with 14 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and one steal against one error in 31:36 minutes of play.
The 6-foot-10 behemoth himself delivered the dagger points, sinking four charities in the last 45 seconds.
The Aces seized command in the third period and were still in control at 98-94 before Arwind Santos drained a pair of charities then Cabagnot fired away back-to-back treys to shove SMB ahead at 102-99.
Alaska failed to stop its downfall, reeling with a fifth loss against two wins.
Fajardo kept up with the Alaska import stride for stride, power for power and basket for basket as the Beermen took the half at 51-46.
The SMB behemoth matched Henton’s 20 points and six rebounds in the first two quarters. And with Santos, Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter also doing their part, the Beermen built an 11-point lead at 48-37 and set the pace almost the entire opening half.
Fajardo had had 12 markers and two rebounds in the opening quarter that also went in their favor at 27-23.
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