June Mar Fajardo sustained a right calf injury in the Game 1 loss to Ginebra in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals. Marcio Lassiter and company made up for his limited movements in the Game 2 win.
With the series now even, the San Miguel Beermen are hoping their depth can carry them again as they take on Ginebra in Game 3 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals on Sunday, June 29.
Gametime is set at 7:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Fans can watch it live on One Sports' Youtube channel.
[RELATED STORY: With Fajardo not at full strength, Marcio Lassiter leads Beermen in Game 2 win vs Ginebra]
After falling short in a narrow Game 1 loss, San Miguel responded with a resounding 100-83 victory in Game 2, leaning on a balanced attack to compensate for the limited mobility of June Mar Fajardo, who continues to recover from a right calf injury.
Fajardo is expected to see restricted minutes once more, putting the spotlight on the Beermen’s supporting cast—who delivered in full force last time out.
Marcio Lassiter set the tone with 16 points, Don Trollano chipped in 14, and Kris Rosales added 14 of his own. CJay Perez and Jericho Cruz contributed 11 apiece, while Mo Tautuaa provided the interior presence with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.
SMB coach Leo Austria will once again count on this collective effort to keep Ginebra on its heels and take control of the best-of-seven series.
With momentum on their side, the Beermen are out to prove that their title aspirations remain intact—Fajardo at full strength or not.
[ALSO READ: LA Tenorio returns for Ginebra in Game 2 of PBA semis: ‘It's good to be back on the floor’]
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]