San Miguel showed poise amid an NLEX fourth-quarter upheaval and escaped with the 98-89 decision to commence its PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup campaign on a winning note, Saturday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Juami Tiongson broke the tie with a trey before CJ Perez made his free throws for the 90-85 lead with 36.1 seconds left, putting themselves in control the rest of the way after the Road Warriors rallied back from as much as 15 down.
Perfect trips to the foul line by Jeron Teng, Marcio Lassiter, and Don Trollano in the final 29.5 all but sealed the winning debut for the traditional powerhouse.
(C) PBA Images
It proved to be a triumphant start, too, for a team that’s hungry for redemption after missing the Commissioner’s Cup playoffs being the defending champs.
“It’s a learning process,” Coach Leo Austria said. “This All-Filipino, everybody’s thinking this is our conference. But I told them not to be complacent.”
Perez led San Miguel with a game-high 28 points, alongside four rebounds and four assists. Tiongson delivered 17 points, spiked by a 3-of-4 clip from three.
June Mar Fajardo finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists while Don Trollano supplied 12 markers to lead the bench mob.
The victory should prime the Beermen in their much-awaited game versus Meralco on April 9 as it headlines the league’s 50th anniversary special.
Game time is set at 7:30 p.m. at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in which both teams are expected to don retro uniforms as part of the celebration.
(C) PBA Images
Mike Miranda, on the other hand, had 15 points to lead NLEX as main man Robert Bolick tried to play more of a facilitator role for his squad.
The star guard had 12 points, three rebounds, and eight assists as he ran the one especially during the first half but of course reverted to his scoring ways down the stretch to give their counterparts a run for their money.
But he and the Road Warriors could only do so much, with a former player of theirs in Tiongson dealing the toughest of blows that killed their hopes.
Javee Mocon and Xyrus Torres had 11 apiece while JB Bahio added 10 for NLEX, who will next face the debuting Rain or Shine on April 12.
The Scores:
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, Valdez 2, Nieto 2.
Quarterscores: 28-20, 55-43, 75-65, 98-89.
