Without their main man out for at least six week due to an MCL injury, Cameron Clark joined hands with CJ Perez and Simon Enciso in delivering the killer blows after in the waning minutes to hike their record to 8-2 slate, formally sealing their spot in the Top 4.
Clark, Perez pick up slack in Fajardo's absence as SMB outduels NLEX for quarters bonus
Mar 15, 2023 01:10 PM
At a glance
The Beermen are eager to prove that they are now more than just a June Mar Fajardo team.
And that was exactly shown when the rest of San Miguel Beer picked up the slack and fended off a hard-fighting NLEX, 120-106, to secure the twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals in the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup at the PhilSports Arena on Wednesday, March 15.
Cameron Clark steps up in June Mar Fajardo's absence (PBA Images)
Without their main man out for at least six week due to an MCL injury, Cameron Clark joined hands with CJ Perez and Simon Enciso in delivering the killer blows in the waning minutes to hike their record to 8-2 slate and formally seal their spot in the Top 4.
Clark exploded for a career-high 45 points to go with his 17 rebounds as he held the fort while Perez dropped 13 of his 23 points in the final frame to help the Beermen avert collapse after seeing their once 21-point lead getting cut to just five, 109-104, with 3:18 left.
Enciso though nailed a booming triple which triggered an 11-0 finishing kick starring Perez and Clark to reestablish a 16-point advantage 120-104 with 58 seconds remaining.
Jericho Cruz added 16 points while Allyn Bulanadi chipped in 14 as the Beermen also shifted the focus of their defense to their guards who displayed pressure on their Road Warriors counterparts that resulted in 10 steals.
NLEX import Wayne Selden Jr. tried to carry the fight with 32 points while Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser added a double-double of 29 points and 15 rebounds.
They were also the reason behind the NLEX’s fourth quarter uprising after trailing 80–59 early in the second half. SMB looked poised to keep NLEX at bay until the final buzzer as Perez delivered timely hits but back-to-back triples from Ganuelas-Rosser and Kevin Alas allowed them to break through the double-digit barrier and come within five.
That however was the closest NLEX could get as SMB made the decisive run which denied the Road Warriors their place in the Top 4 while giving Meralco the twice-to-beat advantage in the playoffs.
NLEX, Meralco and Magnolia actually ended up in a three-way logjam in the middle of the standings with identical 7-4 records but the Bolts held a much-better quotient over the two allowing them to secure the last quarterfinals bonus.