June Mar Fajardo and the San Miguel Beermen continued to make a case for being the best team ever assembled in the PBA, shattering another PBA record Friday.
The Beermen displayed championship pedigree when it mattered most and clawed back from a 16-point deficit in the fourth period before outlasting Magnolia in double overtime, 108-99, in Game 5 of the 2018 Philippine Cup Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Beermen become the first team to win four consecutive Philippine Cup titles. Crispa achieved the same feat but did so in six years.
San Miguel leaned heavily on Fajardo, who did most of the damage in the fourth quarter and extra periods, including a bank shot off a spin against Rafi Reavis that gave the Beermen the lead for good, 96-94, with 4:22 remaining in the second overtime. Things went downhill for the Hotshots Pambansang Manok from there as they wasted away possession after possession to allow the Beermen to build a 101-94 lead they never relinquished.
Fajardo's 42 points and 20 rebounds was more than enough for him to be named the Cignal TV-Finals MVP.
But the three-time reigning MVP had plenty of help. Arwind Santos churned out 23 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, and four blocks, and included a huge 3-pointer off a broken play to send the game into the first overtime,
Marcio Lassiter added 16 markers and Chris Ross was two steals away from a quadruple-double as he finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists.
"I thank God for this championship. Credit to Magnolia for a job well done this series," said Fajardo, whose team was down by as much as 23 points in the third period.
Magnolia made San Miguel look nothing like the same team that won the last three editions of the conference for the first three quarters, leading by as many as 23 points, 71-48, in the third period. But the Beermen refused to fold, with Fajardo dropping 14 points in the fourth period to spark a 20-4 run capped by Santos' game-tying triple.
It was a nip-and-tuck battle from there before the Beermen broke free in the second overtime on Fajardo's basket.
"I really don't know what to say. I'm overwhelmed with what happened because we thought the series would be extended. But my players didn't give up," said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.
Paul Lee paced Magnolia with 21 points but did nothing in the extra periods to help his team pull away. Rome dela Rosa had 19 markers, seven rebounds, and three assists, while Rafi Reavis added 13 markers to go with 12 boards, three dimes, and four blocks. Mark Barroca and Ian Sangalang combined for 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists.
THE SCORES
SAN MIGUEL 108 - Fajardo 42, Santos 23, Lassiter 16, Ross 13, Cabagnot 7, Heruela 3, Rosser 2, Espinas 2.
MAGNOLIA 99 - Lee 21, Dela Rosa 19, Reavis 13, Barroca 12, Sangalang 11, Ramos 8, Gamalinda 6, Jalalon 5, Pascual 2, Brondial 2.
Quarterscores: 19-21, 37-53, 60-74, 86-86, 94-94, 108-99
EXTRA DRIBBLES
Leo Austria is now 6-for-6 in PBA finals appearances as a coach.
The Beermen were 21-of-26 on free throws, including a remarkable 14-of-15 from Fajardo.
It's the 24th PBA title for the San Miguel franchise.