June Mar Fajardo has shown vast improvement since suffering a right calf injury in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals opener.
Even when not fully healthy, June Mar Fajardo is a problem for Ginebra.
Fajardo, nursing a calf injury, bullied his way to a double-double as San Miguel flattened Ginebra, 107-82, in Game 4 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals on Wednesday, July 2.
The 6-foot-10 behemoth started for the first time since getting hurt in the series opener and came up with 12 points and 19 rebounds. He also had three assists and two steals as he played for nearly 32 minutes.
"Nandoon na," said Fajardo, when asked if he was already 100 percent healthy.
Fajardo was especially instrumental in the third period, where SMB pulled away via a furious 30-12 assault fueled by his six points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block there.
“Thankful ako sa mga cocahes namin, sa mga teammates ko. Lahat ng ipinasok ni coach, nag-step up,” he said.
All but one of the 13 Beermen fielded in produced at least two points. Five others scored in double figures, with Perez leading the pack with 19 points, followed by Juami Tiongson's 14, Rodney Brondial and Cruz's 12 each and Don Trollano's 11.
“Kailangan naming ipanalo ang game na 'to kasi mahirap 'pag down 3-1 [in the best-of-seven series.]”
[ALSO READ: San Miguel star June Mar Fajardo back in front of BPC race for PBA Philippine Cup]
San Miguel erased a slim 50-51 deficit at halftime, going on to lead by as many as 27 points, 107-80, before crossing the finish line.
“It’s very obvious that the energy of the team is high. We’re able to match up their energy. A lot of our perimeter shooting went in unlike before,” said Beermen coach Leo Austria, whose squad went 39-for-80 for a near 49 percent shooting from the field.
Meanwhile, Troy Rosario had a rousing start, but could not sustain it. He wound up with 14 points, seven rebounds and an assist.
Jamie Malonzo added 12 points and five boards, while Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar had 11 and 10 points, respectively.
San Miguel vs. Ginebra scores:
SAN MIGUEL 107 – Perez 19, Tiongson 14, Fajardo 12, Brondial 12, Cruz 12, Trollano 11, Teng 9, Lassiter 6, Ross 5, Rosales 3, Tautuaa 2, Calma 2, Cahilig 0.
GINEBRA 82 – Rosario 14, Malonzo 12, Thompson 11, J.Aguilar 10, Abarrientos 9, Ahanmisi 7, Holt 5, Pinto 4, Tenorio 4, R.Aguilar 4, Gray 2, Cu 0, David 0.
Quarterscores: 24-26, 50-51, 80-63, 107-82.