MANILA, Philippines — The San Miguel Beermen continued their dominant run in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup, securing a semifinals berth after a 101–94 victory over the NLEX Road Warriors on Christmas Day at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Defending champions and top seeds San Miguel, armed with a twice-to-beat advantage, overcame a slow start to pull away in the second half and dismiss the hopes of an upset from the eighth-seeded Road Warriors.
The Beermen trailed by six at halftime before erupting with a decisive third-quarter surge. A 21–2 run flipped the game’s momentum in San Miguel’s favor, setting the stage for a strong close.
June Mar Fajardo was dominant, finishing with a monster double-double of 26 points and 23 rebounds, anchoring San Miguel’s balanced offensive attack. Don Trollano also made key contributions, scoring 17 points, many coming during the pivotal third quarter that helped the Beermen seize control.
For NLEX, veteran guard Robert Bolick made a strong showing, leading his team with 31 points in his first game back after competing for the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games.
Despite the Road Warriors’ competitive first half and Bolick’s effort, San Miguel’s depth and experience proved decisive. The Beermen have now extended their winning streak to 10 games, dating back to earlier in the season, and remain undefeated in their last 10 starts.
With this win, San Miguel becomes the first team to clinch a semifinal spot in the all-Filipino conference. They will await the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between Converge and Barangay Ginebra to determine their next opponent.
The loss ends NLEX’s campaign in the Philippine Cup, but Bolick and his teammates remain optimistic that this experience will fuel their future growth.
