SMB abanse na sa semis

Pasok na sa semifinals ng PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup ang San Miguel Beermen matapos malusutan ang Converge FiberXers, 109-105, nitong Linggo ng gabi sa Ynares Center, Antipolo. 

Nalagpasan ng Beermen ang hamon mula sa Converge squad, kung saan napilitan ang mga ito na magkaroon pa ng do-or-die Game 5 sa quarterfinals. 

Labis namang ikinatuwa ni SMB coach Jorge Gallent ang naging performance ni June Mar Fajardo sa Game 5 kontra FiberXers. Sinabi pa ni coach Gallent na kanilang lubos na maasahan si Fajardo lalo na sa mga do-or-die game.

"My hats off to June Mar Fajardo in this game. He played his heart out. I have nothing to say about this guy except all praises. We just gave him more touches, because he's really a great post player. We just took advantage of that situation," ani Gallent.

Nangibabaw si Fajardo sa do-or-die Game 5 matapos makapagtala ng 40 points, 24 rebounds, apat na assists at isang steal, habang 23 points at 10 rebounds naman ang nagawa ni SMB import EJ Anosike at mayroong 10 points, siyam na assists at anim na rebounds si CJ Perez.

Itinuturing ng Beermen na isang napakahirap na laro ang kanilang nasagupa kontra Converge dahil sa kanilang kakulitan lalo na sa ipinapakita nitong depensa para lang makuha ang panalo. 

"It's a pesky young team. We had a hard time going back on defense and everything. We can't relax against any team we play. Converge was here for a reason,” dagdag pa ni Gallent.

Susunod na makakaharap ng Beermen ang Barangay Ginebra sa best-of-seven semifinals na magsisimula na sa Miyerkules, October 9, na isasagawa naman sa PhilSport Arena.

The Scores :

SAN MIGUEL 109 – Fajardo 40, Anosike 23, Perez 10, Rosales 9, Trollano 7, Lassiter 6, Cruz 6, Tautuaa 5, Romeo 3, Enciso 0

CONVERGE 105 – Jones 29, Stockton 22, Santos 16, Cabagnot 14, Winston 8, Arana 8, Delos Santos 4, Nieto 2, Caralipio 2, Ambohot 0

QUARTERS : 22-34, 54-57, 89-87, 109-105