MANILA — June Mar Fajardo delivered a crucial double-double as San Miguel Beermen staved off elimination with a 101-98 victory over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in Game 3 of their PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup quarterfinal series Tuesday night at the City of Dasmariñas Arena.
Fajardo bounced back from two lackluster performances, finishing with 18 points and 13 rebounds to help the Beermen avoid a sweep and trim Ginebra’s lead to 2-1 in their best-of-five series.
Import George King spearheaded San Miguel’s offense with 21 points, while Jaymar Perez added 14 and Marcio Lassiter contributed 13 in the Beermen’s must-win outing.
Rhon Jay Abarrientos led Ginebra with 21 points, while George Isaac Go and Jordan Murphy scored 17 apiece. Earl Scottie Thompson chipped in 14, and Jeremiah Gray finished with 13.
San Miguel will seek to force a deciding Game 5 when the series resumes Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Meanwhile, Converge FiberXers moved within one victory of their first-ever PBA semifinals appearance after routing Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 105-89, in Game 3 of their quarterfinal showdown.
Juan Gomez de Liaño powered the FiberXers with 19 points, 13 rebounds and six assists as Converge seized a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.
Cameron Clark supplied 18 points, Justine Baltazar added 15, while Jonnel Policarpio and Calvin Abueva contributed 13 apiece.
Caelan Tiongson and Deo Cuajao led Rain or Shine with 16 points each, followed by Felix Pangilinan-Lemetti with 15.
Adrian Nocum registered a triple-double of 11 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, while Michael Malonzo added 10 in the losing effort.
Converge will attempt to close out the series in Game 4 and secure a historic semifinals berth./PN
