CJ Perez was all fired up, flexing and screaming, as San Miguel erased an 11-point third quarter deficit and took control of the game for good in the fourth, en route to a 100-93 win over Barangay Ginebra to book a seat in the PBA Philippine Cup finals.
Except in this instance, he was doing it from the sidelines and on the bench, as he played cheerleader to his teammates who starred in the Beermen’s 34-20 fourth quarter which set them up for a date with TNT in the seven-game title series.
READ: San Miguel outduels Ginebra in Game 7, gets shot at TNT in Finals
This conference’s leading scorer checked out at the 1:03 mark of the third quarter with SMB down 73-64 - and didn’t return until the 55-second mark of the final frame with the win firmly in their hands.
And that was totally fine with Perez
“Siyempre, ganun naman ang basketball e. Sa team, kailangan mo ring mag-cheer minsan. Hindi laging ikaw ang nasa loob. I’m proud of them. I’m grateful na nakarating kami dito,” he said.
It wasn’t like he was having a bad game. Perez already had 15 points and four assists before being pulled back to the bench.
It just so happened that Chris Ross and Jericho Cruz started clicking both on offense and defense – convincing Leo Austria to ride it out with his veteran duo.
“That’s the good thing about sa team namin e. ‘Di mo alam kung sino puputok talaga,” Perez said.
“I’m so proud sa teammates ko nung fourth quarter kasi they gave it all, lalo na si Chris Ross, sobrang ganda ng depensa nila ni Jericho sa ibabaw, so I’m happy.”
CJ never doubted Chris
Cruz took over playmaking duties in the fourth, as he ended with seven assists, including some key passes to June Mar Fajardo.
But it was Ross who did it all for San Miguel, shooting threes, forcing turnovers, and everything in between, as he finished with 19 points, seven assists, and four steals in a classic performance that reminded everyone that, like LA Tenorio for the Gin Kings in Game 6, the multi-titled guard can still be a difference-maker for his squad.
“Forty na si Chris Ross, pero mileage ata nun, 18 e,” Perez said.
“Sobrang ready niya. Kahit hindi mo siya gamitin nung nakaraang game, gamitin mo siya ngayon, sobrang ready niya. Ganun ang leader,
“We know pagpasok niya, magko-contribute siya. Sobrang focused niya and lahat kami, 'pag nakikita na ganun energy niya, nasasama kami.”
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