MANILA – San Miguel Beermen displayed its experience and dominance from start to finish to defeat Meralco Bolts, 100-89, in the do-or-die Game 7 of the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
June Mar Fajardo tallied double-double 29 points and 14 rebounds, while Jaymar Perez contributed 18 points, nine assists, five steals and four rebounds.
Marcio Lassiter had 16 points, including three triples, while Vic Manuel and Ilonggo Jericho Cruz had 13 and 12 points, respectively, as the Beermen wrapped up the series at 4-3.
The Beermen thus set up a best-of-seven championship showdown with defending champions TNT Tropang Giga beginning this Sunday at the Big Dome.
The Beermen set the tone early with three outside conversions from Lassiter for a 16-6 score. The Bolts clawed to within 10-20 but SMB answered with inside shots from Manuel and Moala Tautuaa for a 26-12 score.
SMB opened the second canto with baskets from Manuel and Cruz for a 34-14 edge. Meralco rallied to within 25-34 but inside conversions by Fajardo and Manuel gave the Beermen a 45-31 halftime lead.
The Bolts threatened to within 12 points anew early in the third period but the Beermen leaned on fastbreak hits by Perez and inside conversions by Fajardo for a 73-54 advantage.
The Beermen went on to build its largest lead at 23 points early in the fourth period but the Bolts went on a huge run capped by an inside basket by Clifford Hodge to cut the deficit to 74-84.
But that was the last run by the Bolts as the Beermen got a triple from Simon Enciso, back-to-back layups by Manuel and Fajardo and another inside hit from Enciso for a 93-77 lead.
Hodge ended the match with 23 points and eight rebounds, Chris Newsome added 14 markers, while Aaron Black and Raymond Almazan had 13 and 12 points, respectively, for the Bolts.
BOX SCORE:
SAN MIGUEL 100 — Fajardo 29, Perez 18, Lassiter 16, Manuel 13, Cruz 12, Tautuaa 7, Enciso 5, Brondial 0, Ross 0.
MERALCO 89 — Hodge 23, Newsome 14, Black 13, Almazan 12, Hugnatan 8, Banchero 8, Quinto 7, Maliksi 4, Pascual 0, Jose 0, Pasaol 0.
Quarterscores: 26-12, 45-31, 73-54, 100-89./PN
