PBA: Perez comes up clutch as San Miguel takes 2-1 lead over TNT

MANILA, January 26 ------ CJ Perez was the hero in crunch time as the San Miguel Beermen seized a 2-1 lead over TNT Tropang 5G in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals. Perez poured in seven clutch points in the final minute to lift the Beermen to a 95-89 victory in Game 3 of the best-of-seven affair at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, marking their second straight win in the series. “I just want to win,” said Perez, who also scored all but three of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to help San Miguel avert a 17-point collapse, and this was on top of his five rebounds and four assists. “Wala sa play yun eh, pero thank God na pumasok lang talaga yung tira ko,” he added.

June Mar Fajardo was equally impressive, posting a monstrous 16-point, 27-rebound performance to go along with three blocks and three assists. Don Trollano chipped in 19 points, while Mo Tautuaa and Marcio Lassiter added 14 and 10 markers, respectively. The Beermen can inch closer to clinching the All-Filipino crown in Game 4 on Wednesday, January 28, at 7:30 p.m., still at the Pasay bayside arena, as they look to build on their late-game momentum.

Trailing 86-89 after a Rey Nambatac three-pointer and a Henry Galinato slam in the final canto, Perez drilled a backbreaking four-pointer with 41 seconds remaining to give San Miguel a slim 90-89 lead. He continued his late-game heroics with 12 seconds left, knocking down a three-pointer after Nambatac misfired from deep to stretch the Beermen’s lead to 93-89. TNT still had chances to respond, but Jordan Heading and Nambatac both missed from beyond the arcs. Lassiter then sealed the win at the line with a pair of free throws.

Calvin Oftana led TNT with a game-high 25 points and five rebounds, while Heading and Nambatac finished with 15 and 12 points, respectively. Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser also delivered 15 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists, but it wasn’t enough as the Tropang 5G fell short of completing their 17-point comeback.

The Scores:

San Miguel 95 – Perez 20, Trollano 19, Fajardo 16, Tautuaa 14, Lassiter 10, Cruz 8, Brondial 4, Teng 4, Tiongson 0, Ross 0.

TNT 89 – Oftana 25, Heading 15, Ganuelas-Rosser 15, Nambatac 12, Galinato 6, Khobuntin 5, Erram 4, Pogoy 4, Enciso 3, Williams 0, Jalalon 0.

Quarterscores: 33-19, 44-50, 67-72, 95-89.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com