CJ Perez explodes for 28 as San Miguel survives NLEX in PH Cup opener
MANILA, Philippines – The San Miguel Beermen kicked off their PBA Philippine Cup campaign with a 98-89 win over the NLEX Road Warriors at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Saturday, April 5.
San Miguel leaned on the hot hand of CJ Perez — who exploded for a game-high 28 points on 11-of-21 shooting — as the Beermen started the season-ending conference on a winning note after failing to reach the playoffs for the first time in a decade in the previous Commissioner’s Cup.
Juami Tiongson backstopped Perez with 17 points, while June Mar Fajardo — who was recently named to the PBA’s 50 Greatest Players — posted a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds.
After leading by 10 points at the start of the fourth quarter, 75-65, San Miguel saw its lead vanish as NLEX tied things up at 83-all with 2:25 to play off two free throws by Mike Miranda.
Luckily for the Beermen, they managed to regain their bearings just in time as they countered with a 9-2 run capped by two charities by Jeron Teng with only 29 seconds remaining for a 92-85 advantage.
Miranda knocked down a four-pointer in the following possession to pull NLEX back within two, 89-92, before Marcio Lassiter, Don Trollano, and Perez put the finishing touches for San Miguel with six straight freebies in the endgame.
Miranda topscored for the Road Warriors with 15 points as the Beermen held NLEX star Robert Bolick to only 12 points on a lowly 2-of-11 field goal clip.
Like San Miguel, the Magnolia Hotshots opened the new conference with a 1-0 record after a 106-84 blowout of the Blackwater Bossing in the curtain-raiser.
Four Magnolia players scored in double figures in the wire-to-wire win, with Zavier Lucero leading the charge with 21 points on an efficient 8-of-11 shooting.
Ian Sangalang added 15 points, Mark Barroca poured in 14, while Jerom Lastimosa and Calvin Abueva contributed 13 markers each.
The Hotshots spoiled the game-high 31-point explosion of Christian David and the 24-point output of Sedrick Barefield, who is back in action for the Bossing after missing most of the previous conference due to a foot injury.
The Scores
First Game
Magnolia 106 – Lucero 21, Sangalang 15, Barroca 14, Lastimosa 13, Abueva 13, Dela Rosa 8, Lee 7, Dionisio 7, Alfaro 2, Ahanmisi 2, Laput 2, Escoto 2, Reavis 0, Balanza 0, Eriobu 0.
Blackwater 84 – David 31, Barefield 24, Casio 6, Escoto 4, Tungcab 4, Ayonayon 4, Mallilin 4, Andrade 2, Chua 2, Guinto 2, Mitchell 1, Caperal 0, Jopia 0, Kwekuteye 0.
Quarters: 37-22, 53-46, 85-66, 106-84.
Second Game
San Miguel 98 – Perez 28, Tiongson 17, Fajardo 13, Trollano 12, Lassiter 8, Cahilig 6, Tautuaa 6, Teng 6, Brondial 2, Rosales 0, Ross 0.
NLEX 89 – Miranda 15, Bolick 12, Mocon 11, Torres 11, Bahio 10, Ramirez 8, Alas 8, Herndon 7, Semerad 3, Nieto 2, Valdez 2, Rodger 0.
Quarters: 28-20, 55-43, 75-65, 98-89.
– Rappler.com