Fajardo powers Beermen to easy win over Enforcers
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In a rare sequence in the third quarter, June Mar Fajardo flashed a good smile as he finished a fastbreak play.
It was as nice, as smooth and as easy as their 102-86 smothering of the Mahindra Enforcers that carried the San Miguel Beermen closer to a possible early Final Four passage in the 2016 Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup.
The Beermen stretched to 20 points at 62-42 their lead on Fajardo’s breakaway layup.
Moments after Joshua Webb scored on a jump shot, the Beermen ran another quick transition play with Fajardo bringing down the ball and issuing a fine dish that Bitoy Omolon fumbled.
No big deal.
The Beermen stayed safely in control to the finish to regain solo leadership with a 7-1 win-loss card, relegating Alaska Milk and Rain or Shine to joint second at 6-1.
The Enforcers slid to joint ninth with the Star Hotshots at 2-6, barely up on the Blackwater Elite (1-6) and the Meralco Bolts (1-7).
Fajardo had many other highlight plays in a 35-point, 11-rebound game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The reigning back-to-back MVP missed by a point his career best output as he was rested by coach Leo Austria with a good three minutes left to play.
He went 13-of-17 from the field and 9-of-9 from the stripe and also produced three blocks and two assists against four turnovers in 34:01 minutes of action.
“We didn’t want to be embarrassed by Mahindra at talagang naglaro ng husto si Junmar,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.
“I’m so happy dahil maganda rin ang inilaro ng second stringers namin. We struggled early on then our second group stepped up for us. Then Arwind Santos, who struggled early, picked up his game in the fourth quarter,” Austria also said.
Santos scored all of his 11 points in the fourth quarter while Brian Heruela logged 10 of his 14 in the final canto.
Marcio Lassiter sat out the game to rest his sore groin.
“Nakiusap siyang magpahinga muna dahil nag-ensayo sa Gilas then he wanted to take a rest to be ready for two tough games against Alaska and Talk n Text,” said Austria.
The Enforcers fought the Beermen to a low-scoring 14-all first quarter before slowly fading away. (SB)
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