Playing with pride, the San Miguel Beermen returned to the semifinals.
With June Mar Fajardo hiting 23 points and 15 rebounds, the Beermen pulled off a 108-97 victory and dethroned the Meralco Bolts on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
This allowed the win-once and top seeded Beermen to breeze through their 49th PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals clash with the Bolts, who beat San Miguel for the crown last year.
“It’s all about pride. In the last championship (48th Philippine Cup), Meralco beat us. And we redeem ourselves from the loss,” said Beermen coach Leo Austria.
Don Trollano and Juami Tiongson struck with 19 points for the Beermen, who fought back from 18 points down in the last period.
Making 27 points in the last period, the Beermen drew 12 points from Fajardo and Tiongson, in moving ahead of the Bolts.
“Last conference we did not even get to the quarterfinals now we’re in the semifinals. I think it’s a big achievement, but we’ve prepared for this conference to get all the way through to the finals and eventually win the championship,” added Austria.
The Beermen’s second unit, led by Tiongson and Rodney Brondial, took charge in the closing minutes of the third period, after the Bolts moved close, 75-77.
Baskets from Tiongson and Brondial saw the Beermen taking an 81-75 edge when the fourth period started.
Tiongson, along with Mo Tautuaa and Jericho Cruz took turns in finding openings in the start of the fourth, and their effort saw the Beermen taking a 14-point edge, 91-77, with 9:22 to go.
Austria said the Beermen are still far from their goals at this stage.
“It’s a long shot because the next opponent could be either Converge or Ginebra and we know how strong both those teams are.”
