CJ Perez made sure to give the unlikely heroes their flowers for a job well done in helping San Miguel extend its dominion in the PBA Philippine Cup.
While the usual suspects delivered again, the star guard sang praises for Rodney Brondial and Kris Rosales for providing much-needed lift in the latter part of the title series versus TNT to eventually complete the back-to-back.
“Sobrang special nito kasi lahat kami nagtulungan. ‘Yung hindi mo aakalaing mag-step up, nag-step up,” he offered moments after their title-clinching 92-77 Game 6 victory over TNT at the SM Mall of Asia Arena Sunday night.
That tandem proved crucial, especially in the last two games of the best-of-7 affair, which the Beermen won to keep the Jun Bernardino Trophy.
Brondial himself starred in their 96-82 win in Game 5. There, he submitted a workhorse of a showing with 17 points and 15 rebounds as the 35-year-old stepped up when June Mar Fajardo went down with a hurt knee.
(C) PBA Images
Then there’s Rosales, who flexed his gunslinging ways anew and finished with 12 points — spiked by a pair of three-pointers — off the bench. That allowed guys like Jericho Cruz to stay longer on the bench and rest his knee as well.
And come Game 6, Brondial would sustain his fine play, making the most of a second straight starting gig as he produced 15 and 13.
Given how the two ‘magic bunot’ performed, the starters were pushed to do their best as well, leading to a balanced attack in the clincher.
Fajardo, for one, finished with 29 points and 23 rebounds on the way to a record-setting fifth PBA Press Corps Finals MVP award, made all the more special as he became the first-ever recipient of the Ramon Fernandez Trophy.
Perez, meanwhile, finished with 19 points, alongside four rebounds, seven assists, and a steal. Marcio Lassiter added 13 markers on three triples, as a total of seven players scored at least three points in the convincing triumph.
“I’m grateful na sina June Mar, hindi sumuko, kasi marami na silang nararamdaman,” he said. “Sina Jericho, may injuries na rin. Credit sa kanila, lalo na kay Rodney and Kris Rosales, sobrang ganda ng nilaro nila.”
As a result, San Miguel annexed its 31st PBA championship, with the 32-year-old Perez taking home his third Philippine Cup title and fourth overall.
“Kung umabot pa ng Game 7 ‘yun, mas mahihirapan kami. We’re grateful. And thank God na gumanda ‘yung laro namin lahat,” he said.
