Undermanned San Miguel dumps NLEX to start Govs’ Cup bid

No June Mar Fajardo, no problem for the arguably the league’s most stacked team.

No June Mar Fajardo, no problem for the arguably the league’s most stacked team.

San Miguel was classic San Miguel and looked as if it didn’t miss the four-time MVP as it made easy work of NLEX, 125-112, to begin its campaign in the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Filling in for the injured center was the returning Christian Standhardinger, who immediately played for the Beermen after suiting up in his last game with the national team in the Asian Games in Indonesia.

Standhardinger, as impressive as he was in Jakarta, was marvelous for the Beermen putting up a career-high 36 points with 11 rebounds and going 14-of-17 from the field.

“I have to appreciate Christian despite the fact that he was tired from the Asian Games and he was really playing well there,” said San Miguel head coach Leo Austria. “The Asian Games gave him a lot of exposure and what he did today was similar to what he did there.”

San Miguel first showed glimpses of its strength in the second quarter when it went on a 13-3 run that AZ Reid capped off with a triple for the 56-44 lead with 3:09 left in the first half.

It was in the third period that the Beermen eventually pulled away, going on a 15-2 run to build a 20-point lead after Standhardinger’s jumper at the 4:38 mark.

Reid complemented Standhardinger’s efforts with 30 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists while Alex Cabagnot filled the box scores with 23 points, six boards, and nine assists.

Aaron Fuller led the Road Warriors (3-2) with 36 points 16 rebounds, and five dimes.