MANILA, Philippines – In their PBA Governors’ Cup semi final matchup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, SAN Miguel Beer easily defeated Barangay Ginebra 131-121 after taking coach Jorge Gallent’s advice to heart.

With 29 points from June Mar Fajardo, the Beermen tied the best-of-seven series at two games each and made it a race to two beginning Friday. Five other players ended in double figures.

After a solid performance in their most recent game, San Miguel head coach Jorge Gallent stated his happiness with the team’s response to his challenge. Gallent stressed the value of putting in a lot of work and energy during practice the day before in order to guarantee a strong probability of winning. His team answered resolutely, putting on a spectacle that demonstrated both skill and heart on the court.

Gallent praised the team’s perseverance and dedication throughout the match, acknowledging their hard work. One of the main reasons they won was their ability to play with intensity when the situation called for it. Recognizing that steady effort will be essential in the later rounds of the competition, the coach also emphasized the need of continuing to play at this level in the remaining games.

As they look to the future, Gallent is optimistic that his players will maintain the same kind of zeal and vigor that has made them formidable challengers. San Miguel hopes to maintain this momentum for the rest of their campaign, and their recent victory has not only raised morale but also set a high bar for the challenges ahead.

Fajardo, who only managed eight shots and 14 points in a 94-99 loss last Sunday, was the epitome of SMB’s tenacity. This time, he made 12 of 15 shots and pulled down 16 rebounds.

The eight-time season MVP, as usual, gave the team some of the credit.

June Mar Fajardo thanked his teammates and coaching staff for their assistance in carrying out the game plan and making necessary modifications during play. Fajardo gave his teammates credit for constantly searching for him in crucial spots on the court, especially in the post and under the basket, which helped him take advantage of scoring opportunities.

Fajardo stressed that the team’s performance was mostly due to their combined effort, stating that the team as a whole rose to the occasion rather than simply his individual efforts. As they successfully implemented the plan outlined by the coaching staff, it was clear that the players worked well together and trusted one another.

Despite demonstrating his dependability as a key player with his ability to convert plays under the hoop, Fajardo maintained his humility and emphasized that the win was the product of a team effort. His comments emphasized how crucial cooperation and communication were to the strategy’s successful execution, which enabled them to win on both ends of the court.

Fajardo and his colleagues are well-positioned to maintain this momentum in the forthcoming games thanks to the team’s unified play and excellent execution of the game plan.

EJ Anosike finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds despite a late F1 that prevented him from building on his strong start to the game and a right ankle sprain in the last seconds of the second session.

Don Trollano, who managed just three points in his prior two games, was greatly assisted by CJ Perez’s 20 points and Marcio Lassiter’s 15 points.

With 14 points, including a shot to finish his 8-0 two-man run with Fajardo, Terrence Romeo gave SMB its largest lead of the game, 122-102.

The Beermen were able to hold off Justin Brownlee’s 49-point burst, which included 26 of his points in the second half, thanks to their well-rounded offense.

However, despite the heroic efforts of the three-time Best Import winner, SMB went on a rampage as Fajardo, Anosike, and Perez initiated a 15-5 exchange that pulled the Beermen from a 62-61 count.