CJ Perez may have taken the spotlight with his best ever game in the PBA, but June Mar Fajardo still credited the entire San Miguel crew for making it back to the finals of the Philippine Cup.
The nine-time MVP said it’s still a team effort that allowed the Beermen to finish off the Barangay Ginebra Kings in their semifinals series Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ: SMB withstands Ginebra comeback, seals PBA Finals rematch vs TNT
The reigning champion clinched the series, 4-2, with a 101-88 blowout of Game 6.
“Team effort yun. Ang ganda ng start namin,” said Fajardo, who nonetheless was still left in awe of Perez’s career game of 41 points on 17-of-23 from the field but a perfect 12-of-12 in the first quarter.
“Ang ganda ng nilaro ni CJ. 41 points and perfect siya nung first quarter.”
And unlike in the early part of the best-of-seven series when the Beermen rode on the broad shoulders of the 6-foot-11 Fajardo, the other San Miguel players stepped up such as Don Trollano, Mo Tautuaa, and the ever reliable Chris Ross.
Trollano finished with 23 points behind Perez including 11 in the final quarter when he took charge for San Miguel and kept the rallying Ginebra at bay.
“Si Don din ang ganda din ng nilaro lalo na sa closeout ng fourth quarter,” Fajardo said.
Fajardo was held to his conference-low four points on 2-of-5 shooting, but made up for it by grabbing a game-high 18 rebounds.
He also credited the Beermen for staying together especially when the Kings were trying to mount a final rally in the fourth period.
“Buti nag-stay composed kami kaya nakuha namin yung series."
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