PBA: San Miguel stymies Meralco, sets up semis clash vs Rain or Shine

June Mar Fajardo had 22 points and 16 rebounds, while Marcio Lassiter knocked down key triples when it mattered, as the San Miguel Beermen overwhelmed the pesky Meralco Bolts, 102-86, on Monday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

"Playing Game 2 of the twice to beat advantage, they put us in a scary situation," admitted SMB head coach Leo Austria. "I told my team that this team is very disciplined and organized."

Arizona Reid paced his team with 29 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, but also had nine turnovers. Lassiter finished the game with 17 points, hitting three triples in the fourth, while Arwind Santos accounted for 15 points and six boards. Ronald Tubid led the bench with eight points.

"I'm happy to see players responding sa hinihingi ng fans that we get back in this game. Pinanindigan nila sinasabi nila na 'coach, we will win," Austria added. "We are thankful sa concern ng management. Sinabi nila kami bahala dito; magpapakamatay kami dito. We have eveything to lose against Meralco. I asked them to give their effort and focus."

With the win, the Beermen set up another matchup against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

San Miguel found themselves ahead by double digits after one, as Arizona Reid and his team uncorked a 15-6 blast to end the quarter, 30-18. The Bolts countered with a 7-0 run early in the second, trimming the lead to three anew, but Arwind Santos and June Mar Fajardo would have none of it, shaking off Meralco to re-establish a seven-point spread at the half, 49-42.

San Miguel enjoyed a 10-point edge midway through the third, before Andre Emmett knocked down three straight, while Jared Dillinger strung five to cut the lead to one, 64-63, at the 2:50 mark. A Reynel Hugnatan make had the Beermen leading by only two, 67-65, heading into the final turn.

In the payoff period, SMB relied on their outside sniping to pad the lead, as Marcio Lassiter and Ronald Tubid combined for three early treys for a 10-point edge. The Beermen led by as much as 14 points midway before Gary David tried to ignite a late rally, cutting the deficit to nine, 88-79, with five straight points. Tubid and Lassiter then connected on triples, as an Arizona Reid basket with 1:04 to go put the game away, 99-81.

Andre Emmett ended his conference with 28 points, 12 rebounds and four assists, while Reynel Hugnatan had 17. Gary David chipped in 16 off the bench in 21 minutes, but no other Meralco player scored more than seven points. - GMA News


The scores:

SAN MIGUEL 102 - Reid 29, Fajardo 22, Lassiter 17, Santos 15,Tubid 8, Espinas 5, Lutz 2, Cabagnot 2, Ross 2.

MERALCO 86 - Emmett 28, Hugnatan 17, David 16, Cortez 7, Dillinger 5, Nabong 5, Hodge 5, Anthony 3, Ando 0, Atkins 0, Guevarra 0.

Quarters: 30-18, 49-42, 67-65, 102-86