Don Trollano carried San Miguel Beermen past Barangay Ginebra, firing 33 points to power a 91-85 Game 3 victory on Friday, Jan. 9, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The win gave the Beermen a 2-1 lead in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinal series.

June Mar Fajardo struggled with just six points on 1-of-8 shooting after producing 20-20 games in the previous three matchups. Still, the nine-time MVP contributed 19 rebounds and provided a presence in the paint despite battling a shoulder injury.

Trollano leads explosive third-quarter surge

Trollano’s 15-point third quarter ignited a 16-0 run that helped San Miguel seize control, building a 70-52 lead. CJ Perez added 19 points, while Mo Tautuaa chipped in 13, cushioning the impact of Fajardo’s scoring slump.

Barangay Ginebra rallied late, but with Trollano, Perez, and Chris Ross leading the way, San Miguel held on for their second straight win after dropping the series opener 90-99.

Coach Leo Austria lauded the Beermen bench, which combined for 56 points — 21 more than the starters — and credited the team for supporting each other on both ends. “Before the series, talagang in-expect ko siya maglaro nang maayos at makatulong nang malaki,” Austria said of Trollano.

Team effort carries Beermen closer to finals

Austria also praised Fajardo for playing through discomfort. “Even though June Mar is not 100 percent because of shoulder issues, credit to him, kahit sometimes nasasaktan na siyam di siya nagko-complain and he still wants to play,” he said.

With Game 4 set for Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, San Miguel looks to maintain momentum and move closer to a Philippine Cup Finals berth.