By Jonas Terrado
Games Today
(Cuneta Astrodome)
4:30 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Phoenix
7 p.m. – San Miguel vs NorthPort
San Miguel Beer goes for its third straight win before the expected return of star center June Mar Fajardo this weekend when it battles NorthPort today in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Fajardo reportedly practiced for the first time since being diagnosed with an injured right shin yesterday, though the Beermen appear to be in no rush to have the reigning four-time Most Valuable Player suit up in the 7 p.m. encounter with the Batang Pier.
The Beermen have won their last two games behind explosive import Kevin Murphy, whose shooting heroics secured them a 107-96 win over TNT KaTropa last Saturday in Calasiao, Pangasinan.
But San Miguel’s confidence is expected to rise with Fajardo likely to make his return on Saturday against Rain or Shine at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna.
Fajardo was forced to miss two-thirds of the eliminations and the national team’s campaign in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers to recover from the injury that was detected after San Miguel’s title defeat to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
Murphy, who is averaging 33.8 points since replacing Arizona Reid, earlier said that the Beermen will look like a “well-oiled machine” once Fajardo returns from his two-month hiatus.
NorthPort, meanwhile, needs to win its final two games to stay in quarterfinal contention. The Batang Pier hold a 2-7 record.
Meanwhile, Phoenix squares off with Rain or Shine in the 4:30 p.m. opener, needing a win to overtake Blackwater in the race for the top four.
Phoenix is tied for fourth with Blackwater at 6-3 after the latter’s 116-109 loss to Alaska at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Fuel Masters play their first match since dropping a 117-100 decision to the Beermen last Oct. 12 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Rain or Shine is out to redeem itself from losing its last two games, and is also in need of a win to improve its 2-6 slate.
