San Miguel star center June Mar Fajardo in action. PBA ImagesSan Miguel star center June Mar Fajardo in action. PBA ImagesMANILA – San Miguel weathered the last push by Converge in the final canto, 102-95, to take Game 1 in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals on Thursday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The triumph was also a sigh of relief for eight-time PBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) June Mar Fajardo after San Miguel ended the eliminations with a two-game losing streak.

“Buti nakuha namin ‘yung panalo, ‘yun ‘yung importante kasi dalawang sunod na talo, kailangan namin mag-bounce back,” said Fajardo during the postgame interview.

“Importante sa ‘min ‘to, sabi nga ni coach [Jorge Gallent] kanina, before ng start ang game sa dugout, sabi niya ‘kailangan natin makuha ‘yung Game 1 kasi ‘yun ‘yung importante sa series,'” he added. “Good thing nakuha namin.”

Fajardo spearheaded San Miguel’s efforts, tallying a double-double of 25 points and 16 rebounds, while debuting SMB import Ej Anosike logged 28 points, although on an inefficient 7-of-24 clip.

SMB saw its lead reach 16 points, 97-81, after a CJ Perez layup at the 3:44 mark in the last frame, but a late rally from the FiberXers cut that separation into four, 99-95, as they entered the final minute of the match.

Schonny Winston had a chance to make it a one-point encounter, but his triple attempt with 31 seconds remaining on the clock failed.

Alec Stockton stole the ball — another chance for a Converge return — but John Louisse De Los Santos threw the ball over after a costly bad pass.

Anosike then nailed crucial free throws to make it a two-possession ballgame, 101-95. FiberXers’ Bryan Santos would then miss his four-point shot, which was Converge’s last hurrah to get back into the game.

Converge reinforcement Jalen Jones paced the losing side with 22 points, while Justin Arana also had 20 markers.

Game 2 is on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

The Scores:

SAN MIGUEL 102 – Anosike 28, Fajardo 25, perez 11, Rosales 11, Trollano 6, Cruz 6, Romeo 4, Ross 4, Lassiter 3, Enciso 3, Brondial 1

CONVERGE 95 – Jones 22, Arana 20, Winston 17, Caralipio 10, Delos Santos 7, Stockton 5, Ambohot 5, Cabagbot 3, Andrade 3, Santos 3, Nieto 0

QUARTERS: 30-23, 55-50, 85-72, 102-95