SAN Miguel Beer looks to sustain its charge under returning coach Leo Austria, eyeing a third win in a row as it tangles with Eastern in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig Sunday.
Two-zero with Austria and import sub Torren Jones, the Beermen hope to keep going and hit the .500 mark as they tackle the Hong Kong-based dribblers in the 7:30 p.m. mainer of the penultimate playdate of the league in 2024.
June Mar Fajardo delivered 27 points and 22 rebounds plus six assists as he provided the spark for the Beermen in a 115-102 drubbing of Blackwater Friday.
In their previous outing, the eight-time MVP winner collected 21 markers, 19 boards and seven assists to lead the Beermen in giving Austria a triumphant head-coaching return with their 106-88 romp over Terrafirma.
"Normal na sa kanya yan," Austria said of Fajardo.
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Also producing a strong performance was Jones, who turned in 29 markers and 14 boards in his second appearance in place of SMB's first reinforcement Quincy Miller.
"He's still adjusting to the system but slowly nakukuha na niya 'yung game plan and we're happy sa pagiging hard worker niya; andami niyang nakuhang bola at putbacks. That's one of the things na kailangan namin," said Austria of Jones, who had 24-13 in his debut
.
Jones and the Beermen try to rise to 3-3 as they duke it out with the guest squad coming off a 113-120 beating by the NorthPort Batang Pier.
Arvin Tolentino and Kadeem Jack delivered a pair of 30-point games and combined for 73 as NorthPort quickly snapped back from its maiden loss of the conference and handed Eastern its second loss in seven starts.
"It's always fun to play 'yung dayo 'yung kalaban mo or you're playing outside the country kasi may kasamang factor na gusto mo'ng manalo. And that's what happened today," said Tolentino.(SB)
