Beermen cruise past skidding Hotshots, clinch playoff berth
Except for one anxious moment in the third quarter, the San Miguel Beermen had a good, relaxed ride versus the Star Hotshots leading to an automatic playoff passage in the Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup.
The Beermen and their fans faced some scare as Fajardo went down the floor after an accidental hard bump on his right knee by teammate Marcio Lassiter.
But after being attended by their staff on the bench, Fajardo returned to the floor in the fourth and sparked a breakaway en route to a 101-90 win over the hardluck Hotshots in a Petron Blaze Saturday Special at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Beermen, the reigning Philippine Cup and Governors Cup champs, clinched the second berth in post-elims play with a sixth win against a lone loss.
In their last four games against Mahindra, NLEX, TNT and Alaska Milk, the Beermen will pursue a Top Two finish for an outright Final Four entry.
In nailing a fourth straight win, the Beermen dealt the Hotshots a fourth successive defeat and sixth in eight games in all.
The Hotshots and rookie coach Jason Webb are barely up on 11th placer Blackwater (1-5) and tail-ender Merlaco (1-7).
Fajardo wound up with 27 points and 16 rebounds and Arwind Santos had his own huge game with 22 markers, seven boards and three assists as San Miguel again caught up with Alaska Milk atop the heap.
Upon his return on the floor at the outset of the final period, Fajardo teamed up with Santos and Chris Lutz in a mighty romp from a two-point lead at 71-69.
“Junmar and Arwind carried us in a huge surge. They badly wanted to win,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.
Santos went 8-of-18 from the field including four three-point conversions and added two charities in his second most explosive performance in the tourney so far.
“Alam namin may mga bad starts si Arwind. I reminded him to just keep on shooting. Alam namin may kakayahan niya, at ipinakita naman niya,” said Austria.
“Yung kabila (the Hotshots), siguro napagod sa paghabol kay Arwind. Nakita din na nagde-deteriorate young laro nila kaya umalagwa kami. They have to embrace their new system. Kailangan magtiwala sila sa new coach nil,” said Austria with some friendly advice to the James Yap and his teammates.
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