Fajardo puts on a masterclass as SMB wraps up title in six games

February 2 ------ JUNE Mar Fajardo carried San Miguel on his broad shoulders with a monster double-double on Sunday night, helping the Beermen win the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup title with a 92-77 win over TNT at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Fajardo's 29-point, 23-rebound night with his old mentor Ramon Fernandez watching from courtside enabled the Beermen to close the best-of-seven series, 4-2, in a game where they led by 21 points but came under siege in the final quarter. The nine-time season MVP went on to win the first Finals MVP trophy named in Fernandez's honor as SMB won its second successive Philippine Cup title, its eighth over the past 11 seasons, and 31st PBA championships overall.

Cjay Perez also stepped up with 19 points, four rebounds, and seven assists, and Rodney Brondial added 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Beermen, who opened a 26-10 lead at the end of first quarter and finished the game with a flourish.

Calvin Oftana had 28 points and seven rebounds while shooting 6-of-9 from threes, while Jordan Heading added 14 points on 3-of-5 shooting from threes as TNT settled for another runner-up finish behind the Beermen in the Philippine Cup.

San Miguel met little resistance in its road to the championship. The Beermen finished at first place in the elimination round with a 9-2 win-loss record, and beat NLEX in the quarterfinals and Barangay Ginebra in the semifinals. Over the course of the conference, San Miguel was on fire, winning 10 straight games that spanned from the eliminations to the playoffs.

The Beermen actually dropped the first game of the championship series against the Tropang 5G but eventually won it all with their depth. Fajardo took over by dominating the paint with 16 points in the second half. His four straight points capped an 8-0 blast that turned a 70-68 lead to begin the fourth into a 78-68 advantage.

The scores:

San Miguel 92 – Fajardo 29, Perez 19, Brondial 15, Lassiter 13, Ross 9, Trollano 4, Tautuaa 3, Rosales 0 Cruz 0.

TNT 77 – Oftana 28, Heading 14, Erram 11, Williams 6, Galinato 6, Khobuntin 4, Ganuelas-Rosser 3, Enciso 3, Nambatac 2, Nieto 0.

Quarters: 26-10; 49-39; 70-68; 92-77.

Source: spin.ph