Giant progress
Fully-recovered Fajardo powers Beermen
Games on Friday (Ynares Sports Arena): 12:30 p.m. — Terrafirma vs Magnolia 3:00 p.m. — TNT vs Rain or Shine 6:00 p.m. — Barangay Ginebra vs Northport
June Mar Fajardo displayed his old deadly form as San Miguel Beer clamped down Blackwater, 99-80, to book its third consecutive win in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City yesterday.
Fajardo delivered a double-double performance in just 23 minutes of action to lift the Beermen to the upper crust of the team standings with a 3-1 win-loss card.
Meanwhile, Alaska carved out a masterful 74-48 win over Rain or Shine to snap its two-game losing streak.
Terrence showed up in our last two practices. He is already starting with his strengthening and shooting exercises.
Rodney Brondial fired 13 points and six rebound while Abu Tratter registered a double-double performance of 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Aces, who limited the Elasto Painters to their lowest offensive output en route to collecting their second win in four games.
Maverick Ahanmisi also powered Alaska, adding 10 markers, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.
The six-time Most Valuable Player fired 16 points and 11 rebounds while CJ Perez chipped in 14 points, five rebounds and one steal for the Beermen, who also drew impressive numbers from Marcio Lassiter, Alex Cabagnot and Arwind Santos.
Lassiter registered 13 points on 3-of-6 three-point shooting while Cabagnot and Santos combined for 22 points.
San Miguel head coach Leo Austria said Fajardo is now starting to get his groove after more than a year of recovery from a gruesome leg injury that sidelined him last season.
He said the 31-year old giant’s progress came just right in time for the midway mark of the competition.
“I’m happy for him (Fajardo). He really wants to get back to his old form,” Austria said in the post-match interview.
“We saw his dominance inside. But I know that it’s not enough for him, his thinking for something better.”
Taking a 69-53 advantage entering the final canto, San Miguel bolstered its offense as Perez and sniper Von Pessumal connived to balloon their lead by as many as 25 points,
82-57, with 7:37 left in the floor.
The Beermen stifled Blackwater’s attempt to cut the lead in the final stretch, leaving the Bossing winless in all of their four games.
Simon Enciso’s game-high 25 point-performance went for naught as Blackwater fell deeper and struggled offensively.
The Scores: First Game
SAN MIGUEL (99) — Fajardo 16, Perez 14, Lassiter 13, Cabagnot 12, Zamar 11, Santos 10, Pessumal 10, Ross 5, Tautuaa 2, Gotladera 2, Comboy 2, , Gamalinda 2, Sena 0.
BLACKWATER (80) — Enciso 25, Nabong 12, Tolomia 12, Daquioag 9, Desiderio 5, Escoto 5, Amer 4, Canaleta 4, Acuno 2, Magat 2, Semerad 0, Paras 0.
Quarters: 20-11, 39-38, 69-53, 99-80.
Second Game
ALASKA (74) — Brondial 13, Tratter 12, Ahanmisi 10, DiGregorio 9, Teng 6, Casio 5, Banal 5, Taha 4, Marcelino 3, Adamos 3, Ebona 2, Stockton 2, Herndon 0, Publico 0.
RAIN OR SHINE (48) — Wong 9, Torres 7, Caracut 6, Ponferada 6, Nambatac 5, Belga 5, Norwood 4, Borboran 3, Guinto 2, Santillan 1, Rivero 0, Mocon 0.
Quarters: 19-12, 41-23, 61-39, 74-48.