The San Miguel Beermen (SMB) withstood a second-half rampage of the NLEX Road Warriors to pull off a 98-89 win and kick off their redemption tour in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup on Saturday, April 5, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Beermen, who had a rare playoff absence in the last Commissioner’s Cup, banked on a strong 15-6 closing run in the final 2:25 to kick off their campaign with a 1-0 start, while the Road Warriors went 0-1.
SMB’s 15-point lead was wiped out by NLEX, thanks to a gigantic second-half rampage that saw the Road Warriors forcing the first deadlock of the game at 83-all after a Michael Miranda triple with 2:25 left in the game.
But the Beermen, despite missing one key player in Jericho Cruz due to sore eyes, still managed to get away with the victory after displaying an endgame composure.
Juami Tiongson broke an 85-all deadlock with a huge three-pointer before CJ Perez and Jeron Teng knocked down two free throws each that made it a 92-85 cushion for the winningest PBA club.
But NLEX refused to just go home without a fight as Miranda buried a huge four-point shot to cut the deficit to three with 18.8 seconds to go, 89-92.
San Miguel then took advantage of a foul-plagued NLEX with Marcio Lassiter, Don Trollano and Perez each sinking a pair of charities to seal the victory for the determined Beermen.
“We have a game plan regarding the endgame, but the defense of NLEX was really taking good care of our offense, maybe because of scouting, so they knew what to do,” San Miguel head coach Leo Austria said.
“June Mar was not able to take his shots because of the defense and everybody knows that in the endgame we will go to June Mar but, fortunately, he was able to get the shots.”
Perez led the way with 28 points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block, while Juami Tiongson posted 17 markers, two dimes and one board to compensate for a rare off night from June Mar Fajardo.
Fajardo, though, made sure to make his presence felt in other departments as he finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, including a perfect dish that led to a Perez layup late in the fourth. (GMA Integrated News)