June Mar Fajardo netted his first career triple-double as San Miguel obliterated Titan Ultra, 158-117, to chalk up its fifth successive win in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup, Wednesday night at the Ynares Center II in Montalban.
The league’s only nine-time MVP tallied 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists–all within the first three quarters–as he and the Beermen totally outclassed the neophyte ball club from start to finish toward gaining a share of the no. 2 spot.
“June Mar, he’s not looking to score anymore. He’s looking to assist–maybe napansin niya na malapit na siya mag-triple-double, kaya nakuha niya,” said head coach Leo Austria of Fajardo’s rare outing. “Another record for him.”
(C) PBA Images
The reigning conference champions have now created a three-way tie at the said position in the standings with NLEX and Rain or Shine, and that’s massive thanks to arguably their finest performance of the tournament to date.
SMB opened things up with 12 straight points before closing the first quarter with a 34-26 lead, but it wasn’t until the second quarter that the crew would break the game wide open, mainly behind a barrage of shots from the arcs.
The Beermen erupted for 43 big points in the chapter to construct a 78-39 advantage entering the break, and the match would never be in doubt as the Giant Risers struggled to find any answer to the traditional contenders.
(C) PBA Images
In fact, Austria’s wards had already breached the century mark with 6:44 remaining in the third, 101-51, courtesy of a Jericho Cruz bucket.
“Overall, it was a team effort eh,” said the champion bench tactician as he couldn’t be any prouder of the effort he saw from the rest of his squad.
Eight players finished in double figures in the win, with CJ Perez leading the way with 26 points behind a combined 5-of-8 shooting from both arcs, including three from four-point distance which he all made in the second period.
Cruz came through with 24 points on a near-perfect shooting as he went 8-for-9 from the floor. Don Trollano, who fired 29 points in their 94-92 escape against Magnolia the last time out, supplied 20 points in 14 minutes.
Jeron Teng made 15 points and six rebounds. Andreas Cahilig supplied 11 points, with Mo Tautuaa scoring 10 points alongside 13 boards.
Kris Rosales, who’s been becoming the team’s ‘magic bunot,’ chipped in 10 points also as the bench contributed a total of 107 points for San Miguel.
“Tambak ‘yung first group namin sa second group,” quipped Austria. “About 66-percent ng output namin, galing sa bench. Kung makikita niyo naman, during the playoffs talagang inaasahan ko ‘yung bench eh.”
The Beermen will now head into the long break ahead intended for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers’ first window before resuming their campaign on December 5 against TNT at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
(C) PBA Images
Von Pessumal, on the other hand, led Titan Ultra with 21 points in the deflating defeat, which sent the team crashing back down to earth after ending its four-game losing skid with a 97-86 win over Blackwater last November 5.
Joshua Munzon had 20 points. Calvin Abueva made 16 points and 10 rebounds while Damie Cuntapay, Jerrick Balanza, and Ato Ular added at least 10 points each in the loss that dropped the Giant Risers’ record to 2-5.
Coach Johnedel Cardel & Co. will shoot for a quick bounce-back as they take on the Road Warriors this Sunday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The Scores:
San Miguel 158 – Perez 26, Cruz 24, Trollano 20, Teng 15, Fajardo 12, Cahilig 11, Calma 9, Miller 6, Brondial 6, Tiongson 4, Lassiter 3, Mantua 2
Titan Ultra 117 – Pessumal 21, Munzon 20, Abueva 16, Cuntapay 15, Balanza 10, Ular 10, Dionisio 7, Yu 5, Martinez 5, Barasi 4, Melecio 3, Monje 1, Ambohot 0.
Quarterscores: 36-24, 79-38, 121-78, 158-117.
