FAJARDO POWERS SMB TO SHARE OF LEAD
San Miguel Beer, banking on a career-best output of June Mar Fajardo, caught up with Alaska atop the heap on a 90-74 drubbing of Kia in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.
Pushed hard by the league newcomer through the first three quarters, San Miguel had to ride Fajardo’s 36-point explosion as the Beermen notched a second three-game streak in the tourney and pulled even with the Aces in the lead with their identical 6-1 win-loss cards.
Earlier in the night, the Aces, unbeaten through their first six games, fell in a 78-85 upset by the Barako Bull Energy.
“We’re in a good position this evening pero muntik pang madisgrasya, and it would have been an embarrassing situation for us,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.
“Nakakatakot yung first three quarters then pumunta na kami kay June Mar at hindi nila napigil si June Mar,” Austria also said.
The 6-foot-10 behemoth piled up 12 fourth quarter points to cap a 36-point job also spiked by 17 rebounds in 40 minutes of action.
“Halos hindi na namin pinagpahinga si June Mar at siya talaga ang naging factor. Hindi nila ma-double dahil nandoon yung mga shooters namin,” said Austria.
Facing just single-coverage defense almost throughout, Fajardo came through with a near perfect 13-of-15 field shooting as he improved his former career best of 27 points.
But even then, the Beermen took a while to pull away in the game.
Reil Cervantes and Virgil Buensuceso put in double-digit outputs and LA Revilla, Joshua Webb and new recruit Jopher Custodio chipped in nine markers as the Sorento dragged the heavily favored Beermen in a battle through the first 36 minutes of play.
The Beermen pulled away for good, 73-60, only after Fajardo, Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter teamed up in a 9-2 run at the start of the payoff period.
So superb was Fajardo’s shooting that he laced it with a career-first three-point conversion with the game already in the bag for SMB.
The Kia bench, led by Custodio with eight markers, outscored their SMB counterparts, 26-16, as the Sorento trailed just by one, 38-39, at halftime.
The Beermen actually threatened to pull away early on a 12-2 start but the Sorento quickly responded and raced ahead at 14-12. (SB)
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
