June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez and Don Trollano were able to spend plenty of time on the bench, watching their teammates get a chance to log heavy minutes amid San Miguel Beer’s battering of Blackwater in the PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday.

The Beermen would later complete the job with a 115-78 rout of the anemic Bossing at Philsports Arena in Pasig City to claim their third straight win, all against struggling teams, and regain solo third spot at 6-2 despite being reduced to just 10 players due to health reasons.

But Fajardo and San Miguel know that things won’t get easier once they conclude a two-week break as they face tougher opponents to close out the eliminations.

“We have big games ahead and we want to make sure that our bodies are prepared, especially with the playoffs fast approaching,” Fajardo said in Filipino after finishing with 17 points and 13 rebounds.

San Miguel’s next opponent is Rain or Shine on June 7 in Cagayan de Oro City, and both teams have had their share of close games this season. The Beermen are also slated to take on the Converge FiberXers and twin towers Justine Baltazar and Justin Arana on June 11.

Their last elimination round game is on June 15 against the NorthPort Batang Pier, who, despite their ongoing struggles that were extended Saturday with a 106-97 defeat to the Magnolia Hotshots in Candon City, Ilocos Sur, can still make things competitive.

Magnolia, led by Paul Lee, Zavier Lucero and Aris Dionisio, improved to 7-1 to become the first team to qualify for the quarterfinals.

“We can beat every team in the PBA, but they can also beat us so we have to prepare for these remaining games,” said coach Leo Austria.

San Miguel won despite missing Juami Tiongson, Marcio Lassiter and Jeron Teng, who all contracted sore eyes in the days following its 39-point mauling of Terrafirma in Montalban, Rizal.

Two men short

The Beermen only had 13 players, two less than the maximum limit for teams to place on the active roster, and their absences were very visible with a few empty seats on the bench.

But CJ Perez scored 20 points, Fajardo had that impressive stat line, while Trollano added 15 for San Miguel.

And with the game virtually in the bag, they got their deserved breather, either exchanging funny stories, getting massages from one of San Miguel’s utility guys or celebrating baskets from JM Calma and Drei Cahilig during garbage time.

Blackwater fell to 1-7 after a showing that was in contrast to its close, dramatic loss to Barangay Ginebra two nights prior when Japeth Aguilar hit a last-second baseline jumper.

The Bossing are now tied at the bottom of the standings with the hapless Dyip and both are set to hit the showers early. The way Blackwater performed was a far cry from the way it played in that loss to Ginebra.

And coming into the game, Austria was actually a bit worried.

“That gave us a lot of concern,” Austria said, referring to the Bossing’s tough stand against the Gin Kings. “I am happy with the win and with the way the players responded. They really wanted to win because our target is the top four.”

Finishing in the upper half of the eight-team field that will advance past the elimination round would mean a win-once advantage in the first round of the playoffs, making the remaining games for San Miguel, and everyone else still in the running, critical ones. INQ