The towering 6-foot-10 frame of June Mar Fajardo lay sprawled on the floor, momentarily off-balanced after executing a challenging layup while hustling back on defense.
Though uninjured, he was clearly fatigued, taking a few extra seconds to regain his breath before rejoining the fray.
In a display of immense determination, the eight-time Most Valuable Player led San Miguel to a hard-fought 109-105 victory over the upset-minded Converge in the decisive Game 5 of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup quarterfinals at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Sunday, Oct. 6.
Fajardo’s herculean effort propelled the Beermen as he delivered a stunning performance with 40 points and 24 rebounds, complemented by four assists and a key block that thwarted Converge’s hopes of a reverse sweep in their best-of-five series, securing San Miguel’s fifth consecutive semifinal appearance.
EJ Anosike provided vital support, contributing 23 points, including crucial baskets that reignited Converge’s ambitions of achieving their first-ever semifinals berth after battling back from a 0-2 deficit in the series.
CJ Perez rounded out the effort with a solid performance of 10 points, nine assists, and six rebounds, along with two steals, all without a single turnover, setting the stage for SMB’s upcoming clash against Barangay Ginebra in the next round.
However, the path to victory was fraught with tension.
With the Beermen facing a daunting challenge after falling behind 99-91 midway through the final quarter, the gentle giant from Cebu rallied his team. Fajardo’s dominance inside the paint shone brightly as he scored 18 points in the second quarter and 11 in the third, netting two pivotal layups to keep San Miguel within striking distance.
Harnessing Fajardo’s momentum, the Beermen unleashed a decisive 11-3 run to seize a 106-102 lead with just 2:59 remaining. Converge, buoyed by their recent successes, quickly countered with a booming three-pointer from Alec Stockton.
San Miguel maintained a slim buffer with crucial free throws—two from Anosike and one from Fajardo—extending their lead to 109-105 with 37 seconds left on the clock.
Converge had opportunities to level the score but faltered, committing two turnovers in the closing moments: an errant inbound pass by Alex Cabagnot and a costly mishap from import Jalen Jones, who lost possession to Jericho Cruz during their final possession.
