San Miguel trips Globalport
Games Today (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 3 p.m. – Mahindra vs Rain or Shine 5:15 p.m. – Star vs Ginebra
Despite injuries to key players like June Mar Fajardo in the off-season, San Miguel Beer proved it is up to the challenge in its title-retention bid as it fashioned out a 97-86 win over Globalport in the Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup last night at the University of Southeastern Philippines gym in Davao City.
Fajardo, the reigning MVP who is recovering from a foot injury, delivered a solid performance in front of a big crowd in the Petron Saturday Special, drilling in 21 points on eightof-16 shooting from the field.
The 6-10 center also grabbed 17 boards and had three shotblocks and his two jumpers late in the game helped SMB fend off a late rally by the Batang Pier.
San Miguel had its biggest lead of 19 points (79-60) on a jumper by Marcio Lassiter, who was likewise dealt with a hamstring injury during the break, with 10:08 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Globalport, however, trimmed the SMB lead to 10 points, 74-84, behind the combined efforts of Keith Jensen and Jay Washington.
The Batang Pier forced SMB to a 24-second shot clock violation but the referees stopped a fast break play, and Washington was whistled and assessed with a technical for continuous complaining. Arwind Santos converted the foul shot, 85-74.
Fajardo then buried a fade away jump shot to put the Beermen ahead, 87-74. Globalport’s Stanley Pringle and Doug Kramer each scored a basket to make it a nine-point game, 7887, 3:52 to play.
Fajardo again came through for San Miguel with another big jumper from the low post for a 90-78 lead, 3:32 left.
Alex Cabagnot also delivered a big game for SMB as he collected19 points and eight assists, while Santos added 11 points. Lassiter came off the bench with 10 points, so was Gabby Espinas as he had all 10 markers in the second period.
Pringle, the Rookie of the Year last season, finished with 20 points, while Jensen added 16 points, and Joseph Yeo and Kramer had 13 and 10 points respectively for Globalport.
Terrence Romeo, the third year guard of Batang Pier who had an impressive stint with Gilas Pilipinas, struggled with five points on 2-of-8 shooting from the field as he played under the weather.
Nearly three months after he was appointed coach of the league’s most popular squad, veteran mentor Tim Cone makes his debut with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel as they face their former team Star Hotshots today.
Cone coached the Star franchise for four seasons where he bagged five championships, giving him a record 21 league titles and a second coaching career Grand Slam in 2014.
The management of San Miguel Corp. (SMC), which under its umbrella owns Ginebra, Star and San Miguel Beer, decided to move Cone to the Kings in the hopes of ending the popular team’s title drought.
The game between Ginebra and Star is set at 5:15 p.m., right after the 3 p.m. encounter of Rain or Shine and Mahindra, where playing coach Manny Pacquiao is expected to join the Enforcers (formerly Kia).
The Elasto Painters – minus injured ace point guard Paul Lee – are aiming for their second straight victory after hammering a come-frombehind 96-87 decision to the Hotshots last Wednesday.
Cone took over a Ginebra team that has the “twin towers” of 7-foot center Greg Slaughter and 6-10 forward Japeth Aguilar, which makes the 57-year-old mentor excited to implement his ‘triangle offense’ system.
Fajardo 21, Cabagnot 19, Santos 11, Lassiter 10, Espinas 10, Lutz 9, Reyes 4, Arana 3, De Ocampo 3, Heruela 3, Ross 2, Tubid 2.
Pringle 20, Jensen 16, Yeo 13, Kramer 10, Maierhofer 6, Romeo 5, Uyloan 5, Washington 5, Mamaril 4, Taha 2, Paniamogan 0, Pena 0, Sumang 0.
Quarters: 20-26, 49-37, 71-58, 97-87.