BENNIE Boatwright teaming up with June Mar Fajardo in a potent frontcourt for San Miguel reminds Tim Cone about a dominant Beermen side of not so long ago.
The Barangay Ginebra coach admitted being concerned with Boatwright’s formidable partnership with the 6-foot-10 Fajardo - exactly the predicament he faced before when former MVP Arwind Santos was still with the team.
Yes, Cone sees a shade of Santos in the 27-year-old Boatwright. Actually, even more.
“Bennie Boatwright is like Arwind Santos x 2. Or x 5 or maybe x 10,” declared Cone as the reigning PBA Commissioner’s Cup champions brace for their semifinals showdown with the streaking Beermen starting on Wednesday.
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Not lost on the 65-year-old multi-titled coach was how well Santos complemented Fajardo down low during their time together at San Miguel that produced eight championships for the franchise.
“What made June Mar so great oftentimes all through those years was having Arwind Santos there sitting on top and keeping defenses honest,” said Cone.
“So Bennie does that even better than Arwind ever did.”
A product of the USC Trojans program, Boatwright obviously changed the landscape for San Miguel ever since he came on board to replace Ivan Aska.
Since playing his first game for the team last Christmas, the Beermen had gone 4-0 with Boatwright, who averaged 40.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists during that stretch.
He had 41 points and 10 rebounds in his first taste of a PBA playoff game - a 127-122 win over a streaking Rain or Shine side during the quarterfinals.
The Beermen have also been undefeated with Boatwright and Fajardo playing together in the middle. Since coming back from a fractured left hand injury, the seven-time MVP is averaging 17.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists.
SMB Twin Towers
The San Miguel Twin Towers is definitely a puzzle Barangay Ginebra will have to deal with if it is to retain its title.
“It’s a dilemma all teams will have to figure it out and we’re going to try and figure it out. If we can’t, we’re not going to win the series,” he said.
The semifinals is a short best-of-five affair.
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