Fajardo in dominant form as Beermen rout Batang Pier
MANILA, Philippines -- Reigning back-to-back MVP June Mar Fajardo showed no ill effects of the plantar fasciitis injury that sidelined him in the off-season as the San Miguel Beermen opened their title defense with a 97-86 rout of the GlobalPort Batang Pier on Saturday at the USEP Gym in Davao City in the first roadshow of the 2015-16 Smart Bro Philippine Cup.
Fajardo dominated GlobalPort's frontline with monster numbers of 21 points, 17 rebounds and three shot blocks in hammering out the win.
GlobalPort appeared headed for a big upset when it erected a seven-point lead early on, 30-23, but it was just a matter of time before the defending Philippine Cup champions hit their groove.
Fajardo touched off a 24-4 run with a reverse layup while Gabby Espinas energized the Beermen with seven points in dazzling fashion as the pro-Beermen Davao crowd roared. The Batang Pier could only trim the gap to eight, 51-59, but never seriously threatened from there.
Gilas star guard Terrence Romeo, who was under the weather, struggled with only five points for GlobalPort.
Alex Cabagnot chipped in 19 points as four more Beermen finished with nine or more in a balanced scoring attack to sink the Batang Pier.
The Scores:
San Miguel Beer 97 – Fajardo 21, Cabagnot 19, Santos 11, Lassiter 10, Espinas 10, Lutz 9, Reyes 4, Arana 3, De Ocampo 3, Heruela 3, Ross 2, Tubid 2.
Globalport 86 – Pringle 20, Jensen 16, Yeo 13, Kramer 10, Maierhofer 6, Romeo 5, Uyloan 5, Washington 5, Mamaril 4, Taha 2, Paniamogan 0, Pena 0, Sumang 0.
Quarters: 20-26, 49-37, 71-58, 97-87.
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