JUNE Mar Fajardo scored one of the most improbable game-winning shots in league history as San Miguel escaped with a 113-112 win over Rain or Shine on Thursday in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Fajardo scored on a buzzer-beating jumper to win it for San Miguel in a wild endgame that saw the Beermen nearly drop the ball when they fouled Felix Lemetti while he was taking a four-point shot with three seconds left.
Rain or Shine's Fil-Swedish rookie calmly sank the four free throws to give the Elastopainters the lead, 112-111.
With no more timeouts left and only three seconds to work with, San Miguel somehow got the ball to Fajardo who got a friendly roll on his jumper from just above the free-throw line at the buzzer to end Rain or Shine's perfect 4-0 start the season as well as SMB's own two-game slump.
“Kailangan na itira. Dying seconds na. Buti nakuha namin ‘yung panalo,” said Fajardo after the thriller.
The game-winner capped another impressive Fajardo double-double of 27 points and 21 rebounds for the Beermen, who wrapped up the first round of the eliminations with a 3-2 win-loss record in Group B.
Jordan Adams also dominated for San Miguel with 41 points including a jumper that made it a 109-105 lead.
San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent said he was not surprised with the fight Rain or Shine gave until the end.
“We just played hard coming to the fourth quarter. We had leads of eight and 10. But we tend to relax. Rain or Shine is a pesky team so they are just going to go, go, and go. We have to take care of the ball in the end game,” said Gallent.
Fajardo nailed back-to-back baskets from the shaded lane and San Miguel built its largest lead at 86-74 late in the third, only to lose it when a jumper by Keith Datu tied the game at 105 with 1:49 remaining.
Fajardo and Adams replied with two consecutive jumpers but Lemetti hit a three to keep the game close in the final minute of the game.
Lemetti finished with 28 points including those four free throws he got from drawing a foul on Chris Ross. Aaron Fuller had 24 points and 18 rebounds for Rain or Shine, which missed the services of rookie Caelan Tiongson due to an illness.
The scores:
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 – Lemetti 28, Fuller 24, Nocum 21, Mamuyac 12, Datu 10, Caracut 6, Clarito 4, Santillan 3, Belga 2, Norwood 2.
Quarters: 33-28; 55-53; 86-80; 113-112.
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