Beermen make it three-zero

DASMARIÑAS , Philippines — For the most part, Rain or Shine’s frontline kept San Miguel Beer behemoth June Mar Fajardo from going on a rampage for the third straight game.

But SMB’s vast arsenal was more than capable and ready to take over.

With CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter, Don Trollano and Terrence Romeo picking up the slack, the Beermen made it three in a row against ROS, 117-107, to get on the doorstep of the PBA Philippine Cup finals yesterday at a packed Dasmariñas Arena here.

Perez (23 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and three steals), Lassiter (21 spiked by five triples) and Trollano (20-11) scored in the 20s while Imus pride Romeo dropped all of his 13 in the fourth and spearheaded SMB’s late breakaway en route to win No. 3 in the race-to-four semis.

The quartet’s strong showing offset the 11-point, 11-rebound outing of Fajardo, whom the Elasto Painters prevented from whipping up a third-quarter storm like he did in their Games 1 (101-98) and 2 (106-89) triumphs.

“Rain or Shine did a good job defending June Mar kaya inisip ko lang to step up,” said Trollano, adjudged Player of the Game.

Fajardo went scoreless in the fourth but Romeo, Trollano, Perez and Lassiter took turns knocking down big shots that extinguished the threat from Rain or Shine towards the finish.

“June Mar had his shots. They just didn’t go in. June Mar’s effort was there. He was doing a lot of things; he was chasing their big men who shoot a lot of threes. Maybe he’s tired but he did a good job (overall),” coach Jorge Gallent said.

The 10-point victory in this city located 30 kilometers south of Metro Manila put SMB in prime position to seal a four-game sweep tomorrow night when the series shifts back to the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Veteran Beau Belga, one of the designated defenders of Fajardo, shot 19, highlighted by six three-pointers to pace the embattled E-Painters.