Cathedral Fajardo. PBA PICTURES
MANILA, Philippines-Dom Fajardo continued his unlikely rise into one of the best players of the PBA On Tour after helping NLEX complete a 102-94 comeback win over shorthanded San Miguel Beer on Wednesday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Fajardo, who works as a security officer for NLEX while also suiting up for the team’s PBA 3×3 team before the exhibition series, had 20 points, seven rebounds and four steals as the Road Warriors won after trailing by 19 at halftime.
Kevin Alas and Jake Pascual worked their two-man game to near-perfection in the final two minutes and NLEX secured the outcome in his favor for only the second win in six outings in the On Tour.
“We made a good run in the third quarter that really set the tone for us. And we’re glad that we have someone like Dom Fajardo,” said coach Frankie Lim.
Alas had 15 points, three rebounds and five assists while Pascual added 10 points and eight rebounds for NLEX.
San Miguel dropped to 2-5 after playing with just eight players for various reasons, including the absence of Terrence Romeo after his hamstring tightened against Converge last June 19.
The Beermen were so depleted that they included to the roster unheralded guard Jayvee Dela Cruz, who recently played for PSP in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup.
Dela Cruz had three points and five assists in 21 minutes before fouling out.
Allyn Bulanadi’s 26 points and Rodney Brondial’s 22 points and 24 rebounds were among the few bright spots for San Miguel.
The scores:
NLEX 102—Fajardo 20, Trollano 19, Alas 15, Doliguez 13, Nieto 12, Pascual 10, Rosales 8, Adamos 4, Anthony 1, Guissani 0.
SAN MIGUEL 94—Bulanadi 26, Brondial 22, Cruz 20, Baclao 9, Apacible 7, Faundo 7, Dela Cruz 3, De Vera 0, Lee 0.
Quarters: 25-20, 39-58, 73-77, 102-94.
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