PBA: Dominant June Mar, dynastic San Miguel top Magnolia to win PH Cup title | ABS-CBN

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PBA: Dominant June Mar, dynastic San Miguel top Magnolia to win PH Cup title

PBA: Dominant June Mar, dynastic San Miguel top Magnolia to win PH Cup title

ABS-CBN News

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Updated Jan 21, 2019 05:40 PM PHT

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San Miguel Beer celebrates its fourth straight Philippine Cup championship, eighth all-Filipino title overall and 25th PBA crown. PBA Media Bureau

Magnolia threw its biggest punch at the defending champions in these PBA Philippine Cup finals.

It didn't matter to a team that boasted a relentless, unflinching Kraken.

San Miguel Beer defeated Magnolia 108-99 at Mall of Asia Arena on Friday to win the all-Filipino title, its fourth straight and eighth overall.

And the Beermen accomplished the feat by riding the back of the tournament's and the league's most unstoppable local force — June Mar Fajardo, who finished with 42 points and 20 rebounds.

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To say Fajardo saved his best for last is a gross understatement.

ALL-TIME LIST OF ALL-FILIPINO CHAMPIONS
YearChampionYearChampion
2017 - 18San Miguel Beer (8)1996Alaska
2016 - 17San Miguel Beer (7)1995Sunkist
2015 - 16San Miguel Beer (6)1994San Miguel Beer (3)
2014 - 15San Miguel Beer (5)1993Coney Island (2)
2013 - 14San Mig Super Coffee (6)1992San Miguel Beer (2)
2012 - 13Talk N Text (5)1991Purefoods
2011 - 12Talk N Text (4)1990Presto-Tivoli (4)
2010 - 11Talk N Text (3)1989San Miguel Beer
2009 - 10Purefoods (5)1988Añejo Rhum 65
2008 - 09Talk N Text (2)1987Great Taste (3)
2007 - 08Sta. Lucia1986Tanduay
2006 - 07Ginebra (3)1985Great Taste (2)
2005 - 06Purefoods (4)1984Great Taste
2004 - 05Ginebra (2)Crispa (5)
2003Talk N Text1983Crispa (4)
2002Coca-Cola1982No tournament
2001San Miguel Beer (4)1981No tournament
2000Alaska (3)1980Crispa (3)
1999Shell1979Crispa (2)
1998Alaska (2)1978Toyota
1997Purefoods (3)1977Crispa
- The Purefoods franchise, now under the Magnolia banner, also won as Coney Island (1993) and San Mig Super Coffee (2013-14).
- The Great Taste franchise also won as Presto-Tivoli (1990).
- The Ginebra franchise also won as Añejo Rhum 65 (1988).
- In 1984, there were 2 all-Filipino conferences.

The record-holder for most best player of the conference awards scored 26 of his total points in the fourth quarter and 2 overtimes.

In the fourth, Fajardo accounted for 14 points, outscoring all of Magnolia (12) by himself.

In the second overtime, he bully-balled his way to 8 points, again outpointing the Hotshots (5) en route to a hard-earned 5-game finish to the best-of-7 title series.

Fajardo did that by playing 54 out of a possible 58 minutes, and shooting 14 of 15 from the foul line.

When the finals MVP winner was to be announced, there was no doubt who would take it home and it wasn't even close.

“(It’s) the character that impressed me with the players,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria, who has won 6 titles in as many conferences with the same core of players.

“Maybe that is because of our spirit and a lot of our championship (experience) . . . 'yung pride nila hindi na mawawala dahil they know the glory of winning a championship.”

Magnolia, which led by 23 points at one point, went toe to toe with the defending champions in the first extension, but didn't have enough gas in the second as a determined Fajardo wore down every Hotshots defender.

“Para sa akin kaming lahat ng teammates ko ang best players, ibinigay namin lahat hindi kami nag-give up,” said Fajardo, who helped the oldest franchise in the league win its 25th championship overall.

After playing to Magnolia's frenetic pace in the first 3 quarters, the Beermen locked the Hotshots down in the fourth and, thanks to a 3-pointer by Arwind Santos with 17 seconds left in regulation, they sent the game to an extra session.

In that period, it was a tossup. Magnolia went ahead 94-92 on a split from the free-throw line by Jio Jalalon, but a basket by Fajardo leveled the score again with 46 seconds on the clock, enough to force another overtime.

As Magnolia huffed and puffed in the final 5 minutes, Fajardo went to work and blew in the Hotshots, who couldn't make a shot and fell into crucial turnovers.

Arwind Santos added 22 points and 11 rebounds for San Miguel, Chris Ross chipped in a triple-double (13 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists).

Paul Lee scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Magnolia.

For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.

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