San Miguel sweeps off Talk ‘N Text

TALK ‘N TEXT forward Jay Washington (left) drives against the defense of San Miguel Beer’s Arwind Santos. The two teams were playing at press time. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

San Miguel Beer provided an anticlimactic ending to what had initially been advertised as a superbly exciting series.

June Mar Fajardo was colossal on both ends, unstoppable in the Beermen’s front court and intimidating on defense as they closed out the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters, 100-87, last night in the PBA Philippine Cup.

Enjoying too much size and with the 6-foot-10 Fajardo the focal point of their offense, the Beermen easily swept their best-of-seven semifinal playoff for a shot at a fifth all-Filipino crown and 20th title overall.

San Miguel coach Leo Austria said bringing down the star-studded Texters, however, should be attributed to their smothering defense.

“We committed ourselves to playing the best defense against them,” said Austria after the Beermen gained their first Philippine Cup finals appearance in four years.

The victory eased the pain of the Beermen’s defeat at the hands of the Texters in the 2012 Philippine Cup semis. Looking like they were in full control, the Beermen saw their finals’ aspiration vanish after the Texters fought back from a 3-1 deficit and eventually stole the series.

“At the start of the semis, I was not expecting this to happen. I was expecting a lot from Talk ‘N Text and I have to credit my players for doing a good job,” said Austria.

Fajardo had 28 points on 12 of 17 field-goal shooting, mostly done around the rim as he towered above everybody else.

The league MVP also pulled down 16 rebounds, issued five assists and had two blocks in a brilliant performance that made the game easier for his teammates.

“Everybody contributed. Great teamwork, good chemistry and the bench stepped up,” said Fajardo.

Whenever the Texters ganged up on him, Fajardo wisely looked for Arwind Santos, Chris Lutz, Marcio Lassiter and Alex Cabagnot who were efficiently waiting in the wings.

The Texters put up a fight early, trailing by just seven at the end of the first quarter before Fajardo, Santos and Chris Ross had several open looks that pushed the Beermen ahead, 59-45, midway in the third.

It was an all-San Miguel show from there as the Texters put every big man available—Kelly Williams, Ranidel de Ocampo and Danny Seigle—on Fajardo to no avail.

Jimmy Alapag narrowed the gap, 88-77, with 2:38 remaining but Cabagnot made two free throws and Santos punctuated the victory with a jam.

The scores:

SAN MIGUEL BEER 100—Fajardo 28, Cabagnot 16, Lutz 15, Santos 13, Tubid 11, Lassiter 7, Ross 6, Maierhofer 2, Omolon 2, Kramer 0, Pascual 0, Fortuna 0, Semerad 0, Chua 0.

TALK ‘N TEXT 87—Alapag 17, Fonacier 12, Seigle 12, Rosser 11, De Ocampo 11, Castro 6, Reyes R. 5, Williams 5, Washington 4, Alas 4, Carey 0, Reyes R. J. 0, Espiritu 0, Aban 0.

Quarters: 24-20, 49-38, 73-57, 100-87