San Miguel Beer's June Mar Fajardo still gets to stuff the ball inside the ring despite getting fouled by Rain or Shine's J.R. Quinahan in Wednesday night's Game 4 of their PBA Governors' Cup semifinal series at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. Jay R. Gotera Saudi Gazette
MANILA — In another scintillating display of their massive firepower and defensive might, the San Miguel Beermen blasted the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 117-110, Wednesday night to arrange a PBA Governors' Cup Finals showdown against the top seeded Alaska Aces. SMB thus wrapped up its best-of-5 semifinal series with ROS at 3-1 en route for its 35th appearance in the PBA Finals. The Finals series, which begins Friday, will be a virtual rematch of the season-opening Philippine Cup championship, which San Miguel won. All five SMB starters scored in double digits led by import Arizona Reid with 38 points on top of 11 rebounds and four assists. Reigning MVP June Mar Fajardo dominated the paint to finish with 27 points on a near-flawless 10 of 12 shooting. He also collared seven boards. Arwind Santos finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Marcio Lassiter and Alex Cabagnot added 12 and 11 points, respectively. Cabagnot also had a game-high seven assists. The Beermen shot a scorching 55 percent shooting from the floor, nailing 44 of 80 shots. The Painters could only come up with a 45.7 percent shooting clip, making 37 of 81 shots. The Beermen led by as many as 19 points, 93-74, heading into the fourth quarter but the Painters fought back ferociously behind the guns of import Wendell McKines, Gabe Norwood and Raymond Almazan. The Painters opened the final quarter with a 9-0 blast as part of a 21-7 run, coming to within five points, 100-95, with 6:27 remaining. Chris Tiu and Jeff Chan drilled consecutive three-pointers as the Painters cut SMB's lead further to 108-104. But Santos knocked in a clutch three-pointer as the Beermen repulsed what turned out to be ROS' last hurrah. McKines once again led ROS with 25 points and 17 rebounds. Chan posted 21 markers while Norwood and Paul Lee added 15 and 13 markers, respectively. Almazan chipped in with 9 points. Game Friday: San Miguel Beermen vs. Alaska Aces (Game 1 of best-7-Finals).
