Injury-hit San Miguel Beer superstar June Mar Fajardo wheeled in on a mobility scooter to claim a sixth PBA MVP award.
His teammates made it a more meaningful night as the Beermen started their Philippine Cup six-peat bid with a 94-78 conquest of the Magnolia Hotshots in the lone opening match of PBA Season 45 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
Moala Tautuaa and Arwind Santos led SMB players who gallantly stepped up in their first outing with Fajardo sidelined by his shin injury.
Tautuaa (20 points and 11 rebounds) and Santos (18 and 15) came through with double-double numbers and Terrence Romeo, Marcio Lassiter and Alex Cabagnot had significant contributions as SMB re-stamped its class versus the very opponent it hurdled in winning the 2018 and 2019 all-Filipino finals.
The Beermen came out well prepared minus their 6-foot-10 behemoth, building a 23-point lead at 60-37 and playing tough all the way to a convincing triumph in the season inaugurals that drew a crowd of around 10,000.
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"Good thing dumating si June Mar at marami siyang na-inspired; not just us but the crowd," said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.
"Alam ng lahat, including our players na malaking bagay si June Mar sa mga championships namin. And our players want to pay back," Austria also said.
"And I'm happy with the win. First game, at gusto namin manalo. Alam namin we can't afford to lose our first games in this tournament because it's hard to catch up," he added.
The Hotshots had a minor uprising, coming to within seven at 56-63, but the Beermen were quick to quell a threat and rebuild a commanding lead.
San Miguel made quick job on a long day ushered in by the Leo Awards followed by the season inaugurals highlighted by board chairman Ricky Vargas declaring the season open.
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The two teams actually engaged in a nip-and-tuck battle in the first period before the Beermen cranked up and pulled away, 45-33.
Also doing good job were Romeo, Lassiter and Cabagnot.
Romeo sizzled with 19 markers, Lassiter added 17 with 2-of-3 three-pointers while Cabagnot chipped in 10 markers, one assist, one rebound and one steal.
Paul Lee fired 19 to pace the Hotshots who drew a solid effort from new recruit Jackson Corpuz (16 markers and 13 boards.(SB)
The scores:
San Miguel 94 - Tautuaa 20, Romeo 19, Santos 18, Lassiter 17, Cabagnot 10, Ross 4, Escoto 3, Zamar 3, Pessumal 0, Gamalinda 0, Comboy 0.
Magnolia 78 - Lee 19, Sangalang 16, Corpuz 16, Jalalon 8, Barroca 8, Simon 4, Dela Rosa 3, Melton 3, Banchero 1, Pascual 0.
Quarters: 18-18, 45-33, 69-56, 94-78.
