Cebuano June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer charges to the basket against TNT’s Anthony Semerad in their quarterfinal game at the Mall of Asia Arena. PBA images
PBA Philippine Cup
TNT had no answers for June Mar Fajardo as the four-peat-seeking San Miguel Beer progressed to the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals with a 106-93 thumping yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The four-time PBA Most Valuable Player unleashed 35 points on an ultra-efficient 15-of-19 shooting from the field, while also gathering 11 rebounds and two blocks to aid the twice-to-beat Beermen in ousting the KaTropa.
The Beermen had an early lead, 42-30, with a big first half, but TNT managed to get back into the game and even took a 70-67 lead with 3:12 left in the third quarter before the defending champions pulled away for good.
Other Beermen joined the scoring party as Marcio Lassiter fired 20 points, five boards, two assists, and two steals, while Chris Ross contributed 13 points, seven dimes, three rebounds, and three steals.
Arwind Santos finished with 15 markers, seven boards, four assists, four steals, and four blocks before being ejected for his second technical foul with 1:20 to play after his scuffle with TNT guard Jericho Cruz.
San Miguel now awaits its date in the best-of-seven semifinals against the victor of the Ginebra-Rain or Shine quarterfinals series, which the Gin Kings lead, 1-0.
Aside from Santos, TNT’s Mo Tautuaa also got tossed in the third quarter of the game.
Tautuaa, who got called for a technical foul earlier in the game, committed a flagrant foul penalty 1 at the 4:58 mark of the period after hacking Beermen swingman Matt Ganuelas-Rosser while going for a drive.
The Fil-Tongan big man was scoreless and only had two rebounds and a steal in close to 10 minutes of action before getting ejected.
Games today:
Araneta Coliseum
4:30 p.m. – Ginebra vs. Rain or Shine
7:30 p.m. – Alaska vs. NLEX