MANILA, Philippines – San Miguel Beer defeated Blackwater 115-102 on Sunday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, marking Coach Leo Austria’s comeback to the coaching bench. June Mar Fajardo’s outstanding performance, which included a commanding 27 points, 22 rebounds, and six assists, helped the team win and marked yet another milestone in his illustrious career.

Particularly in the second quarter, when the Beermen dominated with a 37–22 scoring edge, Fajardo’s contributions were crucial. The eight-time MVP’s efforts continued into the second half, when he cleaned up on the boards and anchored the team’s offense. Fajardo showed his dependability while feeling ill, building on his 21-point, 19-rebound, and seven-assist effort from San Miguel’s last 106-88 victory over Terrafirma, which also marked Austria’s coaching comeback.

Fajardo, who acknowledged the difficulty of recovering from a possible loss, underlined the necessity of pushing himself and understanding the significance of the game. His commitment to setting a good example and being focused highlighted the Beermen’s team effort to win. Fajardo, however, sidestepped individual praise in favor of highlighting the team’s combined efforts to win.

The Beermen’s triumph demonstrated their capacity to support their commander and cooperate to overcome obstacles. The squad was given fresh life by Austria’s comeback, and San Miguel’s impressive performance was maintained by Fajardo’s leadership and consistency. Fajardo’s dominance and the Beermen’s togetherness continue to be crucial to their hopes of winning the championship as the competition goes on.

Fajardo emphasized that the victory was the result of cooperation and effort at all organizational levels rather than just his own accomplishment. He emphasized that success was made possible by the coaching staff and his fellow players working together, and he praised their contributions. The humility and leadership that characterized Fajardo’s illustrious career in Philippine basketball are reflected in this statement.

The victory emphasizes how important teamwork is under pressure. Fajardo’s emphasis on solidarity and shared accountability serves as a reminder of basketball’s team-based character, in which each player’s success enhances the team’s overall performance. He continues to be an essential member of his squad as they face the difficulties of the current competition because of his capacity to set an example and motivate others via words and deeds.

With import Torren Jones, who replaced Quincy Miller in his second game for the Beermen and put up an incredible performance with 29 points and 14 rebounds, June Mar Fajardo established a potent interior tandem. After making his debut with 24 points and 13 rebounds, Jones showed his consistency by gradually settling into the team’s scheme. The coaching staff recognized Jones’ diligence and his ability to pull down important rebounds and score second-chance points, both of which were critical to the team’s victory.

Coworkers CJay Perez (15 points), Jericho Cruz (14 points), Don Trollano (11 points), and Andreas Cahilig (8 points) provided Fajardo and Jones with crucial support. The Beermen gained the offensive balance they required to win thanks to their joint efforts. After overcoming a slow start that gave Blackwater Bossing a 10-point advantage early in the game (28–18), the squad took back control and dominated the second half.

Even though the win was noteworthy, the coaching staff admitted that there were several issues with the performance. A gritty first half and many turnovers (17 in all) were identified as areas that needed work. Nevertheless, they underlined how crucial it was to win, no matter how close, because it gave the team impetus going forward.

Although George King had a spectacular 40-point game, Blackwater was unable to stop their decline to a 1-4 record. Even though King was a brilliant individual, the Bossing found it difficult to stay together and build on their early edge.

With important players like Jones adjusting and stepping up when necessary, the Beermen’s ability to come together after a difficult start and play as a team demonstrates their tenacity and resolve to be competitive in the tournament.