SMB seizes solo top spot
GLOBALPORT slotman Doug Kramer shoots off Enrico Villanueva of NLEX in last night’s game at Araneta Araneta Coliseum. RICHARD A. REYES
JUNE Mar Fajardo scored 35 points and had 12 rebounds to spearhead San Miguel Beer in plastering Mahindra, 102-86, as the Beermen again put their nose ahead in the race for top-ranking in the Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup playoffs at Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.
The 6-foot-10 Fajardo scored all but four of his total in the first three periods to set the tone of the rout for the Beermen, who wriggled out of a three-team logjam at the top, albeit temporarily, with Alaska and Rain or Shine at 7-1.
Incidentally, the Aces have the chance to again climb into a tie with the Beermen when they clash today with Meralco in the 7 p.m. main game at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
TNT, the fourth side still in the running for a top two finish—and a twice-to-beat privilege in the first round of the playoffs—battles dangerous Barako Bull in the 4:15 p.m. contest.
Earlier, Terrence Romeo scored 29 points and Stanley Pringle 27 in leading GlobalPort to a 96-90 victory over NLEX that kept the Batang Pier in the upper half of the standings.
Pringle had nine of his total in the third period and Romeo eight in the second half, when the Batang Pier thwarted several comebacks by the Road Warriors from 18 points down.
The Batang Pier rose to 5-3 overall and officially made the quarterfinals.
The Road Warriors, who lost for the second consecutive game and dropped to 4-4, must now win their last three games to gain an important advantage in the first round of the playoffs: the twice-to-beat edge.
“The team has gotten steadier since the first time I got here,” said GlobalPort coach Pido Jarencio.
The scores:
First Game
GLOBALPORT 96—Romeo 29, Pringle 27, Jensen 14, Mamaril 9, Kramer 7, Washington 6, Pena 2, Sumang 2, Maierhofer 0, Semerad 0, Taha 0, Yeo 0.
NLEX 90—Taulava 29, Anthony 17, Villanueva J. 10, Alas 9, Cardona 8, Villanueva E. 8, Khobuntin 5, Enciso 2, Lanete 2, Arboleda 0, Borboran 0, Reyes 0.
Quarters: 24-16, 53-35, 77-70, 96-90
Second Game
SAN MIGUEL 102—Fajardo 35, Heruela 14, Santos 11, Tubid 11, Reyes 10, Lutz 6, Omolon 6, Cabagnot 3, Ross 3, Mabulac 1, Arana 0, Espinas 0.
MAHINDRA 86—Ramos 13, Canaleta 12, Guinto 12, Hubalde 9, Dehesa 8, Pascual 8, Revilla 8, webb 8, Yee 4, Alvarez 2, Digregoro 2, Bagatsing 0, Laure 0, Pinto 0.
Quarters: 14-14, 39-33, 71-52, 102-86
