ALL IS BRIGHT FOR SMB

Riding on June Mar Fajardo's monster 20-20 game, San Miguel Beer got its Christmas job done against NLEX and unwrapped the gift containing the coveted semifinal ticket.

- By OLMIN LEYBA

Fajardo punched in 26 points and hauled 23 rebounds plus a teamhigh six assists in a tour de force performance that keyed the top-seeded Beermen to a clinching 101-94 win over their No. 8 quarterfinal opponent in the PBA Philippine last night.

Cashing in on their twice-to-beat advantage against the Road Warriors, the defending champions booked their Final Four seat early with either No. 4 Converge or No. 5 Barangay Ginebra as next opposition in a best-of-seven affair.

This marked the fifth consecutive semis stint in the All-Filipino for the SMB franchise, 11th in the last 12 seasons.

After trailing by six early, Fajardo came to life and dropped 16 after restart even as Don Trollano joined the fray and exploded for 17 in the last 24 minutes.