MANILA, Philippines – The victory couldn’t be any more pulsating for San Miguel Beer.
Just when Rain or Shine looked poised to keep its unbeaten run going, June Mar Fajardo came to the Beermen’s rescue with a buzzer-beating game-winner for a 113-112 escape in the PBA Governors’ Cup on Thursday, September 5, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Beermen — with no timeouts left and still down one with just 3 seconds remaining — capped a wild endgame where Fajardo caught a long inbound pass from CJ Perez before launching a jumper from the elbow that saw the ball bounce on the front rim before going in as time expired
“I had to shoot it. It was the dying seconds already, we needed to get the win,” the soft-spoken Cebuano center said in Filipino after the game.
Before the thrilling Fajardo winner, San Miguel’s defensive stalwart Chris Ross had a costly foul on Rain or Shine rookie Felix Lemetti, who was attempting a four-point shot.
Lemetti, who has already shown his clutch gene through his first five PBA games, nailed all four to give Rain or Shine a 112-111 edge with 3 seconds left.
Fajardo finished the game with 27 points, 23 coming in the second half, and grabbed 21 rebounds on a historic night where he surpassed 1980 PBA MVP Philip Cezar (5,835) for the seventh spot in the all-time career rebounding list.
The eight-time PBA Most Valuable Player also tied former San Miguel great Danny Siegle in the 10th spot for most free throws made in a career with 2,396, going 5-of-8 in the charity stripe.
FTW! Isang tagay para kay ABAI! #PBAAngatAngLaban#PBAS49GovsCupROSvsSMB pic.twitter.com/6suvYOIJAr
— PBA (@pbaconnect) September 5, 2024
Lemetti, a first-round pick, finished with a season-high 28 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including a four-pointer.
“We needed to win badly because if we lost, we would have dropped to 2-3, “ said Fajardo. “It would have been a difficult situation.”
San Miguel import Jordan Adams delivered 41 points along with 6 rebounds and 5 assists, while ROS counterpart Aaron Fuller submitted 24 points and 19 boards as his team slipped to 4-1.
In the opening contest, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson starred for the TNT Tropang Giga in their 107-89 romp against the winless Terrafirma Dyip.
The former NBA player flirted with a triple-double, stuffing the stat sheets with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists as TNT improved to 4-1.
Five other local players came through with double-digit scoring production, with RR Pogoy and Poy Erram each nailing 14, Kim Aurin with 13, and Rey Nambatac and Jayson Castro each submitting 10.
After a 20-point production in the first half, Antonio Hester was held to three points in the second en route to a 23-point, 18-rebound showing.
Christian Standhardinger, on the other hand, added 18 markers and hauled in 14 boards for the Dyip, which sank even further to 0-5.
The Dyip played without star Juami Tiongson (partially torn left hamstring), and Kemark Cariño (groin injury).
Close throughout the first half, TNT pulled away in the late stages of the fourth quarter, with the final margin of victory being the biggest.
The Scores
First Game
TNT 107 – Hollis-Jefferson 26, Erram 14, Pogoy 14, Aurin 13, Nambatac 10, Castro 10, Exciminiano 7, Khobuntin 7, Payawal 3, Heruela 3, Vosotros 0, Eboña 0.
Terrafirma 89 – Hester 23, Standhardinger 18, Ferrer 13, Hernandez 13, Pringle 12, Cahilig 3, Hanapi 3, Ramos 2, Sangalang 2, Grospe 0, Olivario 0.
Quarters: 30-22, 55-49, 76-68, 107-89.
Second Game
San Miguel 113 – Adams 41, Fajardo 27, Perez 10, Cruz 10, Trollano 9, Lassiter 6, Tautuaa 4, Romeo 4, Rosales 2, Ross 0.
Rain or Shine 112 – Lemetti 28, Fuller 24, Nocum 21, Mamuyac 12, Datu 10, Caracut 6, Clarito 4, Santillan 3, Belga 2, Norwood 2.
Quarters: 33-28, 55-53, 86-80, 113-112.
– Rappler.com