Games today
Araneta Coliseum
3:00 p.m.-Mahindra vs. Rain or Shine
5:15 p.m.- Star vs. Barangay Ginebra
The San Miguel Beermen, banking on the dominating performance of Cebuano behemoth June Mar Fajardo, started their title-retention on a high note after they cruised to a 97-86 win over the Global Port Batang Pier yesterday in an out-of-town game of the 41st PBA Philippine Cup at the University of Southeastern Philippines gym in Davao City.
Fajardo, the reigning league Most Valuable Player (MVP), piled up in 21 points, 17 boards, and three blocks in 38 minutes of action.
It was a balanced attack for the Beermen, who had four other players scoring in double figures, Alex Cabagnot piled up 19 points, eight assists and four boards, Arwind Santos pitched in 11 markers, while Marcio Lassiter and Gabby Espinas each had 10 points.
Chriz Lutz pitched in nine markers for the Beermen, who tied the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, NLEX Road Warriors and Alaska Aces at the top.
San Miguel remained unbeaten on the road in the last four All-Filipino conferences as they improved to 6-0.
GlobalPort, which dropped to 0-9 in road games, was led by speedy guard Stanley Pringle, which finished with 20 points, eight boards, three assists.
Keith Jensen chipped in 16 points, while Joseph Yeo marked his debut with the Batang Pier with 13 makers.
Terrence Romeo, who made a lot of noise in his stint with Gilas Pilipinas, managed just five points on 2-of-8 shooting from the field.
THE SCORES
SAN MIGUEL (97)- 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.
GLOBALPORT (86)- 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.QUARTERSCORES: 20-26, 49-37, 71-58, 97-87.