JUNE Mar Fajardo just showed how deserving he is for the PBA Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference (BPC) award.
Shortly after rewriting history by winning a sixth straight All-Filipino BPC title, Fajardo made a strong statement on the Smart Araneta Coliseum floor by dominating Game 4 of the finals for a 114-98 San Miguel rout of Magnolia Wednesday night.
The 6-foot-11 Fajardo was just unstoppable at the low block, finishing with 31 points and 14 rebounds in the win that tied the best-of-seven series at 2-2.
He scored 14 in the third quarter and finished the game with an almost flawless shooting by going 13-of-14 from the floor.
In all, the Beermen outscored the Hotshots in the paint, 56-38.
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Magnolia coach Chito Victolero admitted Fajardo was indeed, the story of the game.
"Na-dominate ni June Mar ngayon yung game, I think ang taas ng percentage niya sa paint. We need to do a good job next time on June Mar sa poste. Almost 100 percent yata yung field goal niya," said Victolero.
Although he complimented the 29-year-old Fajardo for the 16-point win, San Miguel mentor Leo Austria still emphasized that it was an all-team effort for the Beermen.
"What I like with our team is the energy, focus, and pride. Yun ang umiiral sa kanila ngayon," he pointed out. "It's a team effort and everybody was so focus."
Outside of Fajardo, San Miguel had five others finishing in double figures in a fine display of marksmanship.
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Terrence Romeo was 3-of-5 from three-point range for 18 points, Chris Ross with 15 points and seven rebounds, Christian Standhardinger with a double-double of 13 and 14 boards, while Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot with 12 and 11, respectively.
Showing its strength is in the backcourt, Magnolia got 22 each from Mark Barroca and Ji Jalalon, while Ian Sangalang submitted numbers of 19 and 11 rebounds.
Other than the three, no other Hotshots were able to reach double figures as the team only made 40 percent of their shots from the field (37-of-92).
In contrast, the Beermen sizzled with their shooting with a high 51.8 percent including an impressive high 44 percent from three-point range.(RG)
The scores:
San Miguel (114) - Fajardo 31, Romeo 18, Ross 15, Standhardinger 13, Santos 12, Cabagnot 11, Lassiter 6, Rosser 3, Pessumal 3, Nabong 2.
Magnolia (98) - Barroca 22, Jalalon 22, Sangalang 19, Reavis 9, Lee 7, Herndon 6, Dela Rosa 5, Calisaan 4, Melton 2, Brondial 2, Ramos 0, Pascual 0.
Quarterscores: 25-27; 56-47; 87-77; 114-98.
