Perez catches fire as SMB rallies past BGSM, sets finals rematch vs. TNT

Defending champion San Miguel Beermen thwarted Barangay Ginebra as CJ Perez went on a first-quarter rampage to pull off a 101–88 to clinch a  return trip to the finals in Game 6 of PBA 50 Philippine Cup semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Jan.16.

Beermen drank deeply from Perez’s 12-of-12 shooting in the first quarter as he poured in 30 points, finishing with a career-high 41 points, three assists, and a rebound to anchor their early surge.

Perez’s ‘showtime’ tied Bong Alvarez’s 71-point run for the second highest point total in a quarter followed by Allan Caidic’s 37 point mark as the all-time single-quarter record.

“Nung na-shoot ko ‘yung una, pangalawa, pangatlo, pag-apat, parang tinira ko na lang. Tinitira ko lang, pumapasok. Doon pumasok ‘yong kumpiyansa,” said Perez according to spin.ph interview.

“And nakikita ko naman sila coach sa bench, talagang tiwalang tiwala. Pag tira ko pa lang, nakikita ko ‘yung mukha nila, hindi sila nakasimangot,” he added.

Holding the driver’s seat, the Beermen rode an 19–5 run in the first frame, erasing what could have been an early Gin Kings surge as they turned an 18–6 deficit into a 35–15 blitz with Perez leading the charge as SMB closed the quarter ahead, 39–25.

Perez’s foul trouble in the third frame handed the Gin Kings to close the gap by cutting the lead to four, 83–79 with Norbert Torres sizzling five points in just over nine minutes in the final quarter.

But the Beermen had another plan for endgame with Don Trollano and Phillip Cahilig unloaded a combined 14-point barrage and stretched the lead to  99–83 that responded by Ginebra’s Rhon Jay Abbarientos’ trey and Scottie Thompson’s layup, 101–88.

Meanwhile, Jordan Heading put on a scoring clinic as he lifted Talk N’ Text (TNT) Tropang 5G with 31 markers to cap-off a 99-96 comeback win and book their fourth straight championship appearance on Jan. 14.

Following Heading’s rhythm, was Rey Nambatac and Calvin Oftana who drained crucial plays that gave TNT an edge in the last 21 seconds.

Nambatac’s four-pointer put TNT ahead by one, 95-96, followed by Heading’s steal off to Meralco’s CJ Cansino’s offense that eventually drilled a layup, 97-96.

Game 1 of the PBA 50 Finals is on Jan. 21 at Ynares Center, Antipolo.

With reports from Spin.ph and PBA.ph