San Miguel showed that things remain under control despite June Mar Fajardo’s predicament as it evened things out in the PBA Philippine Cup semis following a 100-83 Game 2 victory over Ginebra, Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
A game-time decision due to the calf injury he suffered in the series opener, the eight-time MVP played limitedly, but the Beermen found ways to compensate, with plenty of others stepping up to eventually atone for Wednesday’s defeat.
Still haunted by their 18-point collapse from Game 1, the traditional contenders rolled to a 21-9 start. They then broke away wide in the second half en route to the wire-to-wire win, en route to tying the best-of-7 series at one game apiece.
“Lagi nating sinasabi na ang strength ng team ay na kay June Mar. But don’t forget, the strength of June Mar is from his teammates,” offered San Miguel head coach Leo Austria. “And it was very evident tonight.”
(C) PBA Images
Marcio Lassiter led the balanced attack with 16 points, half of which he made in the opening period as the veteran winger presided over their hot start. He shot 6-of-8 from the floor, including a 4-of-5 clip from three-point distance.
Don Trollano provided 14 points and six rebounds. Kris Rosales came through as the surprise spark with 13 points alongside four rebounds and four assists.
CJ Perez and Jericho Cruz delivered 11 points apiece and combined for five rebounds plus three assists, while Mo Tautua’a made 10 points and 10 boards.
Tautua’a himself took the spot of Fajardo in the starting five, and he willingly embraced the responsibility. He helped out in their solid start that soon enabled Austria to bring in their main man with 1:55 left in the opening period.
Fajardo finished with just two points and seven rebounds, but the Beermen no longer needed to force him into producing with how the others delivered.
Even the tandem of Andreas Cahilig and Juami Tiongson made significant contributions with nine and eight points, respectively.
“I’m so thankful for the players. Almost eight players in double figures. They played as a team both on offense and defense,” said Austria.
(C) PBA Images
Game 1 hero Stephen Holt, on the other hand, got going again and wound up with 17 points and four rebounds to lead the Kings, albeit in a losing effort.
Guards Jeremiah Gray and John Pinto were the only other double-digit scorers for the crowd darlings with 10 markers apiece. Pinto himself scored all of his points in the fourth quarter alone, but those were practically empty numbers.
That, as the Beermen pulled away in the said chapter, with Cruz opening its scoring fray with a layup. Then Tiongson knocked down a three-pointer to push their lead to two decades, 81-61, with 11:52 on the clock.
Game 3 is on Sunday, June 29, 7:30 PM at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores :
San Miguel 100 – Lassiter 16, Trollano 14, Rosales 13, Perez 11, Cruz 11, Cahilig 9, Tiongson 8, Brondial 4, Fajardo 2, Calma 2, Teng 0
Ginebra 83 – Holt 17, Gray 10, Pinto 10, Thompson 9, Ahanmisi 9, Abarrientos 7, Rosario 6, J.Aguilar 5, Malonzo 5, David 5, Cu 0, Adamos 0, R.Aguilar 0, Tenoio 0.
Quarterscores: 26-15, 54-41, 76-61, 100-83.
