By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The San Miguel Beermen displayed their true identity in the second half as they walloped the Terrafirma Dyip, 110-91, in the do-or-die quarterfinals of the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila on Wednesday night, May 15.
June Mar Fajardo spearheaded the attack with a double-double of 25 points and 22 rebounds, while Terrence Romeo came off-the-bench to provide 19 markers for the top-seed Beermen.
Jaymar Perez chipped in 18 points, eight assists and six rebounds, Celedonio Trollano also tallied 18 markers, while Jericho Cruz ended with 11 points for the defending champion.
Holding to a slim 45-44 lead at the half, the Beermen turned things around in the third quarter with inside conversions by Fajardo and perimeter hits from Trollano, Cruz and Romeo for a 79-66 lead.
The Beermen continued their onslaught in the final quarter with Fajardo towering over the undersized bigs of the Dyip, and Romeo connecting consecutive baskets as the lead reached as high as 21 points.
Javi Gomez de Liaño finished with 23 points, including three outside conversions, while rookie Stephen Holt and Juan Miguel Tiongson ended with 18 markers apiece for the Dyip.
Meanwhile, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters survived a late flurry from the TNT Tropang Giga to pull off a 110-109 escape to make a return trip to the semifinals round after a long while.
Leading by as much as 20 points in the second half, the Painters were surprised by a huge fightback from the Tropang Giga, which tied the score at 98-all on a three-pointer from Calvin Oftana.
The Painters answered back with three-pointers from Andrei Caracut and Gian Mamuyac and free throws from rookie Keith Datu to take a 107-100 lead with 37 seconds left.
TNT made their last push with back-to-back three-pointers from Kelly Williams, but the Painters converted three free throws from Jhonard Clarito and Gabe Norwood to extend the lead to 110-106 before Williams ended the game with another triple.
Mamuyac finished with 25 points, including two three-pointers, Clarito and Santillan added 17 and 15 markers, respectively.
Adrian Nocum and Datu contributed 11 points apiece, while Shaun Ildefonso ended with 10 markers for the Painters./ASC, WDJ
SAN MIGUEL 110 — Fajardo 25, Romeo 19, Perez 18, Trollano 18, Cruz 11, Lassiter 8, Ross 5, Tautuaa 4, Brondial 2, Enciso 0.
TERRAFIRMA 91 — Gomez de Liaño 23, Holt 18, Tiongson 18, Cahilig 12, Go 7, Camson 7, Carino 4, Ramos 2, Alolino 0, Mina 0, Sangalang 0.
Quarterscores: 20-25, 45-44, 79-66, 110-91.