San Miguel decimated Phoenix Super LPG by 30 points, 110-80, to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2021 Honda PBA Philippine Cup, Friday at the Don Honorio Ventura State University in Bacolor, Pampanga.
CJ Perez led the Beermen with 24 points, five rebounds, and four assists as he stepped up following the premature exit of Terrence Romeo, who did not return in the second half reportedly due to a right achilles injury.
SMB improved to 6-3 in the standings as it redeemed itself from the stinging defeat it suffered from Rey Nambatac and Rain or Shine last week.
“Sabi ko sa kanila we have to bounce back and talagang makikita niyo na nag-bounce back kami. But I’m not expecting na magiging ganito outcome,” said head coach Leo Austria. “I’m really surprised. Give credit to the players.”
Mo Tautuaa finished with 19 points in the win. Reigning six-time MVP June Mar Fajardo had 18 points and 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the tilt, as Arwind Santos contributed 16 markers and seven boards.
A total team effort was shown by the league powerhouse that made life without Romeo easier to bear. A part of the starting unit, the star scorer only played for 10 minutes but never returned to the game in the second half.
Romeo, who was averaging 22.2 points prior to Friday, only had three points, three assists, a rebound, and a steal.
But then, the Beermen marched on. Perez, Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, and Chris Ross strung together a 9-0 run to double their lead to 18, 67-49, early in the third chapter, and the game was never in doubt since.
Their lead would swell to as big as 37 points twice in the final period as SMB cruised to the 30-point victory.
Now, San Miguel would look to sustain their momentum for Sunday’s titanic clash with the Magnolia Hotshots.
Phoenix, meanwhile, was led by Jason Perkins with 18 points in the defeat to close out their eliminations campaign with a 4-7 record, dropping to 10th place.
The Scores:
San Miguel (110) – Perez 24, Tautuaa 19, Fajardo 18, Santos 16, Ross 9, Lassiter 8, Pessumal 5, Zamar 5, Romeo 3, Sena 3 Gotladera 0, Comboy 0, Gamalinda 0.
Phoenix Super LPG (80) – Perkins 18, Banchero 13, Muyang 12, Garcia 11, Wright 10, Manuel 8, Chua 6, Jazul 2, Calisaan 0, Pascual 0, Melecio 0, Demusis 0, Tamsi 0, Rios 0.
Quarterscores: 24-21, 55-47, 85-59, 110-80.
