CJ Perez was the difference as San Miguel finished off Ginebra, 101-88, to book a return trip to the PBA Philippine Cup Finals, Friday night.
The former three-time scoring champion fired 30 of his 41 points in the first quarter, leading the Beermen to a 39-25 lead to help set the tone in their favor — while also rewriting the league’s history books with such a sizzling start.
He became just the first local to score that many points in a period in 36 long years, or since all-time great Allan Caidic fired 37 in the third toward a league record 79 in Presto Tivolis’ 162-149 victory over the Kings back in 1991.
His perfect 12-of-12 clip at the start was already impressive, but it is now the best 100-percent clip in a quarter by any player. It eclipsed the 9-for-9 of Cyrus Baguio in 2010, according to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III.
(C) PBA Images
“Nung na-shoot ko ‘yung una, and pangalawa. ‘Yung pangatlo, pang-apat, tinira ko na lang,” offered Perez when asked if he felt he would have a special night witnessed by a solid crowd at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
It wasn’t all smooth-sailing for Perez and his crew, though. The crowd darlings rallied back from as much as 19 down and chopped the gap to as little as five points, 81-76, barely two minutes into the deciding chapter.
But SMB was just deeper and better, with Mo Tautua’a stopping the rally before Don Trollano took over to make it a 99-83 lead with 2:13 left.
Ginebra, moments later, threw in the towel with about a minute to go as they could no longer put together one last run. San Miguel would go on to help Perez breach the 40-point mark in the dying seconds to close it out.
Trollano also had a solid night with 23 points and eight rebounds, scoring 11 in the final period alone to lead their strong finish.
Tautua’a and Chris Ross chipped in eight points apiece, while June Mar Fajardo, despite scoring a conference-low four points, tallied 18 rebounds.
Soon, the Beermen will turn their attention to their Finals rematch with rivals TNT. Game 1 of the best-of-7 series is set on Wednesday, January 21, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, with tip-off scheduled at 7:30 PM.
“I think they are thinking how to get back at us,” said head coach Leo Austria, referring to the Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals in which they beat the Tropang 5G in six and denied their bid to win a Grand Slam just like in 2011.
“Medyo nakahinga kami ng kaunti pero another stressful series na naman ‘yun for sure,” Perez said. “Mag-stick lang kami sa ginagawa naming tama, and titingnan namin ‘yung mga mali namin as a team and aayusin namin.”
(C) PBA Images
Scottie Thompson, meanwhile, led Ginebra with 24 points and nine rebounds in the loss that denied their bid to return to the Philippine Cup Finals.
Norbert Torres had 13 points. RJ Abarrientos made 12 points and five assists, while Japeth Aguilar added 10 points and eight rebounds for the Kings.
The Scores:
San Miguel 101 – Perez 41, Trollano 23, Ross 8, Tautuaa 8, Fajardo 4, Cruz 4, Brondial 4, Tiongson 3, Lassiter 3, Cahilig 3.
Ginebra 88 – Thompson 24, Torres 13, Abarrientos 12,J.Aguilar 10 Holt 8, Gray 8, David 5, Rosario 3, Pinto 2, Estil 2, Cu 0, R.Aguilar 0.
Quarterscores: 39-25, 63-47, 79-71, 101-88.
