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MANILA, Philippines – June Mar Fajardo notched his fourth double-double of the season with 28 points and 15 rebounds as the San Miguel Beermen warded off the pesky Mahindra Floodbuster, 94-91, for their third win in 4 games in the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday, December 11 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Arwind Santos had 18 points plus 9 boards, 4 assists, and 6 blocks on his way to 10th in the league’s all-time block list, past Billy Robinson’s 627 rejections. Santos, playing in his 500th PBA game, also became the 14th player to reach 3,000 defensive rebounds.
Alex Cabagnot and Ronald Tubid contributed 15 and 10 points, respectively, off the bench as the Beermen avoided an upset from the desperate Floodbuster.
“I think this is a good lesson for us. Everybody’s competitive,” said head coach Leo Austria. “We’re lucky that we still won here. We’ll take this win. Next time we can’t afford to have a game like this. So complacent.”
Mahindra has yet to win in 4 games so far this season but came painfully close against the defending champions when they took a 3-point lead on a cold-blooded 3-pointer from rookie Joseph Eriobu with 1:53 left to play.
But San Miguel’s veteran team took over late with Fajardo scoring 4 straight points, Santos splitting from the line, and Cabagnot knocking down a pair of free throws for the 92-89 edge with 11.9 ticks to go.
Alex Mallari did not give up on a play in the final seconds even as he was blocked by Santos to make it just a one-point game, 92-91, with 5.3 seconds left.
Mahindra had a chance to force overtime after Cabagnot sank two more free throws for the final tally. The bench held its breath as Mallari launched a last-gasp 3-point attempt that was straight but short.
Mallari paced the Floodbuster with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists while Eriobu had 17 markers and 6 boards off the bench.
LA Revilla and Russell Escoto had 15 and 10 points, respectively.
Scores:
San Miguel (94): Fajardo 28, Santos 18, Cabagnot 15, Tubid 10, Garcia 9, Lassiter 8, Ross 4, Espinas 2, Agovida 0, Reyes 0, McCarthy 0, De Ocampo 0.
Mahindra (91): Mallari 21, Eriobu 17, Revilla 15, Escoto 10, Yee 8, Ballesteros 5, Digregorio 3, Guevarra 3, Teng 3, Paniamogan 2, Salva 2, Arana 2, Celda 0, Webb 0.
Quarter scores: 26-15, 47-49, 71-66, 94-91.
– Rappler.com
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