MANILA — The defending champions San Miguel Beermen had to fight for dear life before subduing a badly depleted but fierce-fighting Alaska Aces, 93-88, Saturday night in the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup. Three-time MVP June Mar Fajardo dominated both ends of the court, posting team-highs of 23 points, 17 of them in the second half, and 22 boards. But despite Fajardo's heroics, the Beermen still struggled against an Alaska squad that played minus five of its key players — Calvin Abueva, Sonny Thoss, Noy Baclao, Vic Manuel and Ping Exciminiano. Abueva, Thoss and Baclao are out due to injuries while Manuel and Exciminiano were suspended by team management for playing in an unsanctioned event. But despite the manpower shortage, the Aces put up a terrific fight, even leading SMB by as many as 15 points in the first half before the full-strength Beermen finally caught up with them in the fourth quarter. Arwind Santos also starred in the SMB win, finishing with 16 point and eight rebounds. His clutch jumper with a minute left that tied the game in the final minute. Marcio Lassiter added 14 markers while new acquisition RR Garcia chipped in 13 off the SMB bench. The Beermen finished off the Aces with a 10-3 run in the endgame to seal the victory, their second in three outings. Alaska was led by JVee Casio who tallied 20 points. Tony dela Cruz added 15 markers while rookies Jaypee Mendoza and Carl Bryan Cruz chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively. Meralco 106, NLEX 93 Sophomore Chris Newsome and rookie Ed Daquioag sparked a huge Meralco run in the homestretch as the Bolts got past the NLEX Road Warriors, 106-93. Newsome finished with a team-high 28 points, 10 rebounds and five assists while Daquioag dished out 23 points, four boards and three assists in the win, Meralco's first in two games. Newsome and Daquioag each scored 10 points in the fourth period when the Bolts went on a scorching 24-5 run to pull away from a close game. The two explosive guards shot a combined 20-for-30 (67 percent) from the field and 4-for-5 (80 percent) from beyond the arc. Sean Anthony led NLEX with 15 points and eight rebounds in a losing effort. Garvo Lanete and rookies Eric Camson and Raul Soyud scored 14 points apiece that all went down the drain. Meralco and NLEX are now tied in the middle of the pack in the team standings, both with a 1-1 win-loss record. Games Sunday: Mahindra Flood Buster (0-2) vs. Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters (1-1) and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (2-0) vs. Barangay Ginebra Kings (0-1).
