San Miguel moved two wins away from an elimination round sweep of the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup.
June Mar Fajardo reminded everyone why he is a many-time Most Valuable Player on Sunday night, April 28.
Fajardo atoned for a so-so performance in San Miguel's previous game as he tallied 20 points and 21 rebounds in the Beermen's dismantling of NLEX, 120-103, in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
After a measly nine-point outing in San Miguel's win against Magnolia on Friday, April 26, Fajardo made playing basketball look easy from start to finish and the Beermen spiked their record to 9-0.
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In true June Mar Fajardo fashion, he deflected credit to his teammates.
“Basta nakuha namin ang panalo, 'yun ang importante. Nagkataon lang na sa'kin bumabagsak ang bola. Nahanap ako ng mga teammates ko. Team effort talaga,” said the reigning seven-time MVP during the post-game press conference.
Indeed, Fajardo got plenty of help on the offensive end.
CJ Perez churned out 30 points he topped with nine rebounds in a near double-double while Terrence Romeo and Jericho Cruz scored 15 points each.
Don Trollano had 14 points and five baords, while Marcio Lassiter shot four triples on his way to 14 markers as the Beermen nabbed a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.
“If you play the same way we’ve been playing for the first nine games it wouldn’t be a bother for us. As long as we play hard and know our roles then will be OK,” said SMB coach Jorge Gallent.
NLEX didn’t go down without a fight.
San Miguel saw a 19-point lead cut to 10 after Enoch Valdez’s basket over Perez, 104-94, with 3:54 remaining.
Cruz and Perez, though, joined forces in the final stretch, with the former scoring back-to-back baskets to give the Beermen a comfortable 115-99 cushion with 1:14 to go.
Perez followed it up with a booming triple and the Beermen could not be stopped from there.
The Road Warriors, who missed the services of star Robert Bolick, absorbed their third straight loss and dropped to 5-4.
Bolick had to sit out the game after the birth of his child, Zachary, on the same day.
[RELATED STORY: PBA: NLEX star Robert Bolick welcomes his little MVP]
In his stead, Valdez and Jhan Nermal took care of the cudgels for NLEX.
Valdez finished with 18 big points he laced with eight rebounds while Nermal scored 16 markers. Matt Nieto added 14 points, three rebounds, and seven assists.
The Scores:
SAN MIGUEL 120 – Perez 30, Fajardo 20, Romeo 15, Cruz 15, Lassiter 14, Trollano 14, Enciso 6, Brondial 4, Teng 2, Tautuaa 0, Ross 0
NLEX 103 – Valdez 18, Nermal 16, Nieto 14, Anthony 12, Herndon 11, Rodger 8, Miranda 7, Semerad 7, Fajardo 4, Amer 2, Taha 2
Quarterscores: 25-15, 50-41, 83-71, 120-103