By Jay R. Gotera
MANILA — Two-time MVP June Mar Fajardo exploded for 37 points, including 16 crucial markers in the fourth quarter, to lead the San Miguel Beermen to an impressive 106-103 victory over the Alaska Aces in the PBA Governors’ Cup Wednesday night.
What made the victory special was that the Beermen did it without their injured import Arizona Reid, who is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 34.7 points per game.
Alex Cabagnot also starred in the SMB victory, posting 17 points including two clutch three-pointers in the endgame. Marcio Lassiter and Arwind Santos added 12 and 11 markers, respectively.
The Beermen thus improved to a 5-2 win-loss card, tying Barangay Ginebra and Mahindra from second to fourth place in the standings.
The hard-luck Aces dropped to 2-5, just above cellar-dweller Blackwater (1-6) and Star (1-5).
Import LaDontae Henton had a huge 45-point and 15-rebound game but all this went for naught when he missed a shot in the last few seconds that could have put Alaska on top.
Calvin Abueva likewise had a huge game, finishing with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Meralco 101, NLEX 95
The Meralco Bolts used an 11-1 run in the endgame to frustrate the NLEX Road Warriors, 101-95, for their second straight win and fifth overall in eight games.
Import Allen Durham led the Bolts with 31 points, 17 boards, and five assists. Five other Meralco players scored in double digits—Cliff Hodge with 17 markers, Jared Dillinger, Kelly Nabong and Chris Newsome adding 12 apiece and Brian Faundo with 10.
But the revelation of the night was rookie guard Baser Amer who, subbing for the injured Jimmy Alapag, scored all his seven points inside the last two minutes, enabling Meralco to pull away.
The Road Warriors were led by their import Bill Walker, who 38 points, 11 of them in the final quarter.
Cardona ‘improving’ after apparent suicide attempt
NLEX’s Mark “Macmac” Cardona has been transferred to the Makati Medical Center as doctors described his condition as “improving” days after he overdosed on prescription pills in what his sister said was an apparent suicide attempt.
Cardona, 34, even posted a picture of the pills he took on his Instagram account just hours earlier.
Cardona is currently on the injured reserve list of NLEX Road Warriors after he sustained injuries in a vehicular collision months ago.
Games Friday: Mahindra Enforcers (5-2) vs. TNT KaTropa (6-0) and Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters (2-4) vs NLEX Road Warriors (3-4).
