MANILA – June Mar Fajardo returned from a lengthy absence as San Miguel Beermen cruised to a lopsided 131-103 victory over Terrafirma Dyip in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Fajardo, who was sidelined due to a throat operation, tallied 20 points, with 15 coming in the second half, to go with nine rebounds. The Beermen racked up back-to-back victories to improve to 5-5 win-loss slate.
Ilonggo Jericho Cruz led the way with 25 points, including six triples. Devon Scott had triple-double 21 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists, while Vic Manuel and Jaymar Perez contributed 19 and 12 points, respectively, for the Beermen.
The Beermen went to work early behind consecutive triples by Cruz to build a 29-19 lead. Cruz continued his three-point connections in the second quarter while Manuel also got his shooting touch from inside as it grew to 63-38 at the half.
In the second half, San Miguel Beer utilized the inside presence of Fajardo, while Perez and Ilonggo Paul Zamar also got their conversions as the lead reached its largest at 33 points.
Juan Miguel Tiongson ended with 28 points, with five outside conversions, while Javi Gomez de Liano and Allen Mina added 17 and 15 markers, respectively, as the Dyip dropped to 1-10.
In the first game, Bay Area Dragons locked in on one of the two twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals round following a 140-108 domination over TNT Tropang Giga. The Dragons now has 10-2 slate, while the Tropang Giga slipped to 4-7.
The Dragons were blazing to start the game as they erect a 20-6 lead behind Myles Powell and Songwei Zhu. It grew further in the second period behind Kobey Lam and Zhu for a 20-point difference.
Bay Area went for the kill in the second half with Powell and Lam igniting from the three-point territory as the lead swelled to its largest of 38 points in the final minutes of the match.
Powell finished with 37 points, including six outside conversions, Lam also had six treys to go with 30 markers, while Zhu, Qilong Zheng and Duncan Reid also hit double-digits with 30, 16 and 10 markers, respectively, for the Dragons.
BOX SCORE:
SAN MIGUEL 131 – Cruz 25, Scott 21, Fajardo 20, Manuel 19, Perez 12, Zamar 9, Enciso 5, Herndon 5, Ross 4, Brondial 4, Faundo 4, Canete 2, Lassiter 1.
TERRAFIRMA 103 – Tiongson 28, Gomez de Liano 17, Mina 15, Ramos 8, Munzon 8, Camson 7, Javelona 6, Gabayni 5, Alolino 4, Balagasay 3, Grospe 2, Cahilig 0.
Quarterscores: 29-19, 63-38, 96-67, 131-103./PN
