Binandido ni 4-time MVP June Mar Fajardo ang Talk ‘N Text KaTropa, nanibasib ng 35 points, 11 rebounds, assist at 2 blockshots, para iputong sa San Miguel ang 106-93 win sa 43rd PBA 2017-2018 Philippine Cup quarterfinals sa MOA Arena, Pasay kagabi.
May pinagsanib pang 35 pts. sina Marcio Lassiter (20) at Arwind Santos (15) para pumalaot na sa best-of-seven semifinals ang reigning three-time all-Pinoy champion na umentra sa Last Eight bilang top seed na may twice-to-beat sa No. 8 TNT.
Nasayang lang ang lima sa KaTropa na mga kumontak ng dobleng pigura na tinrangkuhan ng tig-19 markers nina Jayson Castro at Jeth Troy Rosario.
Tinapos ng Texters ang season-opening conference na eight placer bale at sinamahan na bakasyon ang mga naunang umeksit na Kia (12th place), Meralco (11th), Blackwater (10th) at Phoenix Petroleum (9th).
Aantayin na lang ng SMB ang papalarin sa Ginebra at Rain or Shine na sumusuong sa best-of-three quarters series. Nakauna na ang Gins sa RoS sa opener kamakalawa (88-80).
“This is the hardest game against TNT, because they’ve gone through two knockout games and they blew them out, so I was so worried,” komento ni Leo Austria, na nagdrama pa sa post-game conference, dahil sa matagumpay na kidney operation ng kabiyak.
“But I give credit to the boys, especially June Mar for being so focused. And we followed the gameplan to the letter,” panapos ng Beermen coach.