The San Miguel Beermen extended their winning streak to three games on Sunday, November 2, after holding on for a 96-90 victory against the Converge FiberXers at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The Beermen are now 3-2 in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup, keeping them within striking distance of the Top 4.

Reigning nine-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo had a huge 24-point, 16-rebound double-double, while Juami Tiongson earned Player of the Game honors after scoring 14 points in just 19 minutes of action.

The Beermen had to erase a double-digit deficit in the first half and pulled ahead in the final quarter, with a split at the line by Fajardo giving them a 10-point spread, 92-82, with just under four minutes to go.

A triple by Justine Baltazar brought the FiberXers within six points, 92-86, with 2:45 left but Mo Tautuaa knocked down his own three-pointer on the other end to restore order for the Beermen.

Converge made one last push, as Justin Arana and Baltazar scored on back-to-back field goals to make it a five-point game, 95-90, with still under a minute left.

Unfortunately for the FiberXers, time ran out on their comeback bid with Alec Stockton and Winston bricking shots that could have brought them closer.

“We know they like to play at a fast pace, so we had to slow it down and make sure to give June Mar the ball,” Tiongson later said of their adjustments against the younger Converge squad.

Winston scored 20 points, while Arana (19 points, 10 rebounds) and Baltazar (14 points, 19 rebounds) gave the San Miguel frontline all they could handle.

The FiberXers dropped to 3-2 in the conference. (ABS-CBN News)

SAN MIGUEL 96 — Fajardo 24, Tiongson 14, Perez 13, Tautuaa 9, Teng 7, Rosales 7, Cruz 6, Rosales 6, Brondial 6, Calma 5, Lassiter 4, Miller 2, Ross 0.

CONVERGE 90 — Winston 20, Arana 19, Baltazar 14, Concepcion 9, Gomez de Liaño 8, Muyang 6, Stockton 6, Muyang 6, Garcia 4, Javillonar 4, Delos Santos 0, Santos 0, Clemente 0, Eguilos 0, Racal 0.

Quarterscores: 20-28, 47-49, 69-66, 96-90.