Saudi Gazette MANILA — June Mar Fajardo played his usual monster game to power the defending champion San Miguel Beermen to a rousing 97-86 victory over the GlobalPort Batang Pier Saturday night in the first PBA Philippine Cup road game of the league's new 2015-2016 season at the University of Southeastern Philippines gym in Davao. Fajardo looked fit and strong and showed no sign of the foot injury he suffered in the last season that kept him out of the Gilas Pilipinas roster as he exploded for 21 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks in 38 minutes of action. Alex Cabagnot also came out to play, firing 19 points, dishing out eight assists, and hauling down four boards, as the Beermen began the defense of their crown with a road victory. Three other Beermen also scored in double digits with Arwind Santos posting 11 markers and Marcio Lassiter and Gabby Espinas adding 10 apiece. Stanley Pringle led GlobalPort with 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Keith Jensen and new acquisition Joseph Yeo added 16 and 13 points, respectively. GlobalPort superstar Terrence Romeo appeared sluggish in his PBA game after his gutsy performance as a member of Gilas Pilipinas in the recent FIBA Asia Championship. Playing under the weather, Romeo was limited to just five points on 2-of-8 shooting. He collected seven rebounds and five assists to make up for his so-so shooting. After a lackluster start that showed them trailing by six points at the end of the first quarter, the Beermen finally unleashed their devastating firepower in the second quarter, grabbing the lead after a 12-0 blast and warding off every attempt of the Batang Pier to regain momentum to take full control of the game. The Beermen's next assignment will be against the Meralco Bolts Wednesday, Oct. 28 while GlobalPort's next match will be against StarFriday. Games Sunday: Mahindra Enforcers vs. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and Star Hotshots vs. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings.
