San Miguel Beer responded with a powerful second-half surge, securing a 131-121 victory over Barangay Ginebra on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, tying their PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal series at 2-2.
June Mar Fajardo delivered a stellar performance with 29 points and 16 rebounds, leading the Beermen to a crucial win and reducing the series to a best-of-three affair. Despite a remarkable 49-point effort from Justin Brownlee, the Gin Kings couldn’t close out the game after trailing heavily in the second half, missing the chance to grab a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Game 5 is set for Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, where both teams will vie for an important third win to move closer to a Finals showdown against either TNT or Rain or Shine.
San Miguel’s import, EJ Anosike, contributed 27 points and 11 rebounds, while CJ Perez added 20 points, six rebounds, and seven assists. The Beermen bounced back after a Game 3 loss in Dasmariñas, Cavite, where they suffered a 99-94 defeat.
Stephen Holt scored 17 points, and Scottie Thompson added 15 points, four rebounds, and eight assists for Ginebra in the Game 4 setback. San Miguel’s dominant third quarter, where Fajardo and Anosike combined for 24 points, gave them a commanding 99-85 lead going into the final quarter, which Ginebra was unable to overcome.
