Fajardo powers Beermen vs TNT to book PBA finals seat

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By ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Tuesday, February 21, 2017
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TNT Katropa’s Kelly Williams (left) rises to the basket against San Miguel Beermen titan June Mar Fajardo (15) during their do-or-die semis clash on Monday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.PBA
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MANILA – The San Miguel Beermen advanced to the 2016-2017 Oppo PBA Philippine Cup finals after a 96-83 victory over the TNT Katropa in Game 7 of their best-of-seven semifinals series on Monday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

June Mar Fajardo finished with double-double 22 points and 19 rebounds, while Arwind Santos also had 22 markers and 13 rebounds for the Beermen, which is on its third consecutive All-Filipino Cup finals appearance.

Chris Ross also had double-double 18 points and 10 assists, while Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter had 14 and 12 points, respectively, for the Beermen, which will face the winner of the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings and Star Hotshots do-or-die semis in the finals.

“I know from the start that this series will be tough for us,” said Beermen head coach Leo Austria. “The (Katropa) had brought out the best of us. Both teams are equally matched maybe we are just fortunate to win this series.”

The Beermen surged to an 18-7 start on baskets by Cabagnot, Lassiter, Santos and Fajardo but the Katropa responded with its own rally to come to within 22-19 at the end of the opening period.

The Katropa tasted the lead at 28-26 early in the second frame on hits by Danny Seigle and Kris Rosales. Both teams exchanged leads before the Beermen took a 41-39 halftime lead on free throws by Fajardo.

The Beermen went on a strong start in the third quarter on hits by Lassiter, Santos and Ross for a 60-48 lead. Triples from Santos and hits by Espinas gave the Beermen its largest lead at 77-57.

The Katropa went aggressive at the start of the fourth quarter to come to within 79-68 but a triple by Santos, a two-handed dunk by Fajardo and back-to-back hits by Ross widened the lead anew to 90-75.

The Katropa had its last run to come to within 92-83 following conversions from Ranidel de Ocampo, Moala Tautuaa and Larry Fonacier but free throws by Fajardo and Santos sealed the win for the Beermen.

Fonacier finished with 14 points, while rookie Roger Pogoy and Kelly Williams had 13 and 11 points, respectively, for the Katropa, which played without Jayson Castro in the do-or-die game due to a hamstring injury./PN

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