ANOTHER special night for a special player.

Eight-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo nailed the game-winning basket at the buzzer as San Miguel Beer brought down erstwhile unbeaten Rain or Shine, 113-112, in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

With the Beermen staring at defeat, Fajardo came through with the game’s biggest basket — a pressure-packed 12-footer — to save the day for San Miguel.

“Tsamba lang. Dying seconds na, kailangan itira. Mabuti pumasok,”said Fajardo, who finished with another huge double-double game of 27 points and 19 rebounds.

More importantly, the win saved the day for the Beermen, who led for most part of the game, and spoiled the E-Painters’ bid to complete a five-game sweep of Group B.

Before his heroics, the 6-foot-10 Fajardo climbed a notch higher in the league’s career all-time rebounding list and made it to the Top 10 in the all-time career free throws made.

Nicknamed ‘The Kraken”, the 34-year-old pride of Cebu moved past former MVP Philip Cezar in the career all-time rebounding list.

Fajardo now has total of 5,846 for seventh place, dislodging Cezar who finished his 17-year career with 5,834.

The University of Cebu product also made 5-of-8 from the free throw line, enabling him to tie another former San Miguel stalwart Danny Seigle at 10th spot for the all-time free throws made with 2,096 totals..

Fajardo had plenty of help.

Import Jordan Adams finished with 41 points on 15-of-25 shooting, six rebounds and five assists in 39 minutes of action for coach Jorge Gallent.

Rookie Felix Lemetti scored 28 points on 6-of-7 from beyond the arc, three rebounds and two assists for the Yeng Guiao-mentored E-Painters, who suffered their first loss after a 4-0 start.

Aaron Fuller added 24 points, 19 rebounds and four assists while Adrian Nocum tallied 21 points.

In the curtainraiser, the TNT Tropang Giga pulled away in the fourth quarter to secure a 107-89 victory over Terrafirma Dyip.

The Tropang Giga unleashed a strong offensive effort in the final period, scoring 31 points and pulling away from the Dyip, who had kept pace for most of the game before fading late.

Despite playing through an ankle injury, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson delivered another standout performance with 26 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks, helping TNT tie Meralco for the top spot in Group A at 4-1.

RR Pogoy and JP Erram added 14 points for the Tropang Giga of coach Chot Reyes.

Kim Aurin contributed with 13 points while Rey Nambatac and Jayson Castro chipped in with 10 points each.

Antonio Hester, who was limited to just two points in his previous game against Magnolia, bounced back with an impressive performance, posting 23 points, 18 rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

Despite his efforts, Terrafirma remained winless, ending the first round of eliminations at 0-5.

Christian Standhardinger contributed 18 points, 14 rebounds, and four assists, while Stanley Pringle added 12 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists.

The scores:

First game

TNT (107) — Hollis-Jefferson 26, Pogoy 14, Erram 14, Aurin 13, Nambatac 10, Castro 10, Khobuntin 7, Exciminiano 7, Heruela 3, Payawal 3, Ebona 0, Vosotros 0.
Terrafirma (89) — Hester 23, Standhardinger 18, Hernandez 13, Ferrer 13, Pringle 12, Hanapi 3, Cahilig 3, Sangalang 2, Ramos 2, Olivario 0, Grospe 0.
Quarterscores: 30-22, 55-49, 76-68, 107-89.

Second game

San Miguel (113) — Adams 41, Fajardo 27, Perez 10, Cruz 10, Trollano 9, Lassiter 6, Tautuaa 4, Romeo 4, Rosales 2, Ross 0
Rain or Shine (112) — Pangilinan-Lemetti 28, Fuller 24, Nocum 21, Mamuyac 12, Datu 10, Caracut 6, Clarito 4, Santillan 3, Belga 2, Norwood 2
Quarterscores: 33-28, 55-53, 86-80, 113-112.

Game Saturday:

(Panabo Cultural Center)
6 p.m.– Meralco vs. Magnolia

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya