San Miguel Beermen star CJ Perez against four Magnolia Hotshots defenders in their PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup faceoff. Photo from PBA Images.MANILA — The San Miguel Beermen avoided a second-half meltdown to add to the woes of the Magnolia Hotshots.
The perennial league powerhouse escaped Magnolia, 85-78, in their Sunday evening showdown in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, Rizal.
CJ Perez had a stellar 23-point, 10-assist game with six rebounds and four steals, while providing help were Jabari Narcis’ 18 markers and 23 boards, and June Mar Fajardo’s 14 points and 14 rebounds.
“This is a good thing for us, to win against Magnolia, because they are a contender to get into the Top 8,” said San Miguel head coach Leo Austria following the thriller game.
”Regarding our execution, especially in the defense, we were able to adjust. Luckily, we were able to stop them in three of four down the stretch. At the start, we had a good game, it was disrupted, but of course, we have talent.”
Austria also lauded Perez who hit tough shots in the payoff period when Magnolia was threatening to pounce on them.
“Nag-struggle ako this conference, pero nakikita kong ‘di nawawala trust ng coaches sa akin. It’s just up to me to respond,” the Gilas Pilipinas guard said.
Tied at 74 late in the game after Magnolia crawled back from a 13-point disadvantage earlier, Ricardo Ratliffe made a crucial deuce inside to give his team a two-point lead with only 2:33 left in the contest.
Marcio Lassiter, however, gave the Beermen a one-point cushion all thanks to his three-pointer at the 1:51 mark of the same canto.
Ratliffe looked to will himself inside in their next possession in hopes of regaining control, but Jericho Cruz swiped the ball from him, and this eventually led to another Lassiter triple with only 51 seconds remaining for an 80-76 lead.
Mark Barroca cut their deficit to two right away off a timeout with his attack at the basket, but Perez drained another dagger trey with only 25 seconds left on the game clock to distance themselves from Magnolia, 83-78.
This was the fourth win of the Beermen in eighth games, and they did not only spoil Barroca’s 600th straight game but also send them down to 3-6 in the standings, currently only good for ninth place.
Ratliffe led the Hotshots with 24 points with 15 rebounds, while Barroca backstopped him with 13 markers, six assists, four rebounds, and a steal.
The Scores:
San Miguel 85 – Perez 23, Narcis 18, Tiongson 13, Fajardo 13, Cruz 10, Lassiter 8, Ross 0, Brondial 0, Trollano 0, Cahilig 0.
Magnolia 78 – Ratliffe 24, Barroca 13, Lucero 9, Lasimosa 9, Sangalang 6, Dela Rosa 4, Abueva 4, Alfaro 4, Ahanmisi 3, Balanza 2, Dionisio 0, Laput 0.
Quarterscores: 20-17, 40-29, 60-60, 85-78.