On the night of his coronation as Best Player of the Conference, June Mar Fajardo starred in San Miguel’s 114-98 win over Magnolia that tied their 2019 PBA Philippine Cup Finals series at 2-2, Wednesday at SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Fajardo, who was far from his usual self back in Game Three, unloaded 31 points on an excellent 13-of-14 shooting from the field – he made his first 12 field goals before missing. Fajardo also finished with 14 rebounds, an assist, and a block.
“We were able to solve the problem (on June Mar) we’ve got in the third game. Tonight, because of the patience of the players trying to set up plays, they didn’t have time to double June Mar,” said San Miguel head coach Leo Austria.
Five more Beermen finished in double figures in the win. Terrence Romeo made 18 points with five assists and four rebounds, Chris Ross finished with 15 points and seven dimes, while Christian Standhardinger had 13 and 14.
Romeo and Standhardinger were the ones who restored order for San Miguel when Magnolia came back from 16 and knocked within seven early in the fourth. Standhardinger’s lay-up gave them a 99-82 lead with 6:09 left to play.
Arwind Santos had 12 points, six boards, and six dimes, as Alex Cabagnot chipped in 11 markers in the win.
Unlike in Game Three where they shot just 32 percent, the Beermen shot a blistering 51.8 percent from the field in the victory, including a 32-of-58 clip from two-point area. They have also won the rebounding battle, 53-46.
“This is the kind of game we’re looking for our team. We were able to score a lot in the shaded area, unlike last game namin we took a lot of shots in the three-point area,” said three-time Coach of the Year awardee Austria.
Guards Mark Barroca and Jio Jalalon led Magnolia with 22 points apiece on a combined 16-of-34 shooting. Ian Sangalang supplied 19 points and 11 rebounds in the defeat that reduced the series to a virtual best-of-three.
Game Five is on Friday, May 10, still at the Big Dome.
The Scores:
San Miguel 114 – Fajardo 31, Romeo 18, Ross 15, Standhardinger 13, Santos 12, Cabagnot 11, Lassiter 6, Rosser 3, Pessumal 3, Nabong 2.
Magnolia 98 – Barroca 22, Jalalon 22, Sangalang 19, Reavis 9, Lee 7, Herndon 6, Dela Rosa 5, Calisaan 4, Melton 2, Brondial 2, Ramos 0, Pascual 0.
Quarterscores: 25-27, 56-47, 87-77, 114-98.
