The San Miguel Beermen are marching on in their title defense, thanks to a colossal performance from their Cebuano pillar, June Mar Fajardo. The top-seeded Beermen clinched the first semifinal spot in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup by eliminating the eighth-seeded NLEX Road Warriors, 101-94, on Christmas night, December 25, 2025, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Fajardo Takes Over After Halftime
Fajardo, the native of Pinamungajan, Cebu, was the undeniable force that propelled San Miguel to victory. He finished the game with a massive double-double of 26 points and 23 rebounds. After a quiet first half, the six-time MVP took full command after the break, unloading 16 of his points in the second half to engineer a crucial turnaround.
The Beermen found themselves trailing by six points at halftime but outscored the Road Warriors 54-41 in the final two quarters to seize control of the game and secure a seven-point win.
Trollano's Spark and a Decisive Run
Don Trollano provided the perfect complement to Fajardo's inside dominance. He erupted for 14 of his 15 points in the second half, sparking the game-changing run for San Miguel. In the penultimate period, the Beermen unleashed a devastating 16-0 scoring blitz that blew the game wide open, building a 68-57 cushion that NLEX could never fully overcome.
Despite the surge, the Road Warriors, led by a valiant effort from Robert Bolick, refused to go away quietly. Bolick, who tallied a stellar line of 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists, helped trim the deficit to 97-92 late in the game. However, Fajardo and Trollano slammed the door shut with clutch free throws and timely defensive stops in the final moments.
Coach Austria Credits Team Experience
San Miguel head coach Leo Austria acknowledged his team's slow start but praised their veteran composure. "We struggled in the first half because credit to NLEX, they were really prepared," Austria said. "But the likes of June Mar Fajardo, he didn't score a lot in the first half but come the second half, he did. He knows how to win, and I really charged this to the experience of the team."
With this victory, the defending champions have now won 10 consecutive games after opening the conference with two losses. They storm into their fifth straight All-Filipino semifinals, solidifying their status as the team to beat.
Final Scores:
San Miguel (101) – Fajardo 26, Cruz 18, Trollano 17, Perez 14, Brondial 8, Tautuaa 6, Lassiter 5, Tiongson 4, Cahilog 3.
NLEX (94) – Bolick 31, Bahio 10, Fajardo 10, Ramirez 9, Alas 9, Onwubere 9, Gonzales 6, Mocon 5, Torres 4, Capulong 1.
