.jpg) |
| June Mar Fajardo put on a monster game to upend an explosive PBA return by Robert Bolick. PBA Images |
QUEZON CITY—Robert Bolick announced his grand PBA return fresh from a Southeast Asian Games gold, but June Mar Fajardo still had the last laugh as San Miguel booked the first semifinal seat in the PBA Philippine Cup with a 101-94 win against NLEX in a rare Thursday night hoops right on Christmas Day at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Fajardo powered the Beermen with a monster performance of 26 points, 23 rebounds, and six assists, even as they scorched ahead in the third quarter with a 32-point output against the Road Warriors, who had control for most of the first half.
Bolick still tried to will NLEX down the stretch, capping his endgame heroics with two free throws with 40 seconds remaining that cut the lead down to three, 97-94, with 40 seconds to go in the fourth period.
However, after Fajardo hit two free throws, debuting LJay Gonzales turned the ball over, and Don Trollano added two more charities to seal SMB's 10th straight win.
Jericho Cruz added 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting, one rebound, and two assists off the bench for the Beermen, who will face the winner of another quarterfinal pairing between Barangay Ginebra and Converge FiberXers.
Converge can set the semifinal clash with SMB if it beats Ginebra later Thursday.
Bolick finished with 31 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and one block for NLEX, which bowed out of contention with four straight losses.
The Scores:
SAN MIGUEL 101 – Fajardo 26, Cruz 18, Trollano 17, Perez 14, Brondial 8, Tautuaa 6, Lassiter 5, Tiongson 4, Cahilog 3, Teng 0, Rosales 0, Ross 0
NLEX 94 – Bolick 31, Bahio 10, Fajardo 10, Ramirez 9, Alas 9, Onwubere 9, Gonzales 6, Mocon 5, Torres 4, Capulong 1, Policarpio 0, Rodger 0, Nieto 0
QUARTERS: 28-29, 47-53, 79-72, 101-94
.jpg&description=PBA: June Mar Fajardo's monster game spoils Robert Bolick's grand homecoming as SMB ousts NLEX){kind=link}