SAN Miguel rode on a record first-quarter explosion by Cjay Perez to oust Barangay Ginebra, 101-88, on Friday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum and advance to the finals of the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup.
Perez started in a pace never before seen in the league, scoring 30 of his career-high 41 points behind a perfect 12-of-12 shooting in the first quarter to set the tone for the clinching win in Game Six of the best-of-seven semifinal series.
READ Perez's 30-point first quarter draws SMB closer to finals return
The Beermen fended off a desperate comeback by Ginebra in the next three quarters to arrange a finals rematch against TNT, just months after denying the Tropang 5G a grand slam in this same conference last month.
Game 1 is slated on Wednesday at the Ynares Center-Antipolo.
Perez went 12-of-12 from the field in the first quarter that enabled San Miguel to take a 39-25 advantage, the lead of which eventually ballooned to 19, 68-49, in the third.
“We are very grateful dahil nanalo kami kasi this is what the fans are expecting for us,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria. “It’s a team effort for us.”
It was a team effort indeed.
After Perez was saddled with foul troubles, Don Trollano picked up the slack offensively and had 11 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter.
After Barangay Ginebra came to within four points, 83-79, Trollano knocked down back-to-back shots to begin an 11-0 run to make it a 94-79 ballgame.
Chris Ross and Mo Tautuaa each had eight points, while June Mar Fajardo made his presence felt on the glass, grabbing 18 rebounds for San Miguel.
Scottie Thompson had 24 points and nine rebounds at the close of Barangay Ginebra’s campaign in the Philippine Cup.
The scores:
San Miguel 101 – Perez 41, Trollano 23, Ross 8, Tautuaa 8, Cruz 4, Fajardo 4, Brondial 4, Lassiter 3, Tiongson 3, Cahilig 3.
Barangay Ginebra 88 – Thompson 24, Torres 13, Abarrientos 12, J. Aguilar 10, Holt 8, Gray 8, David 5, Pinto 3, Rosario 3, Estil 2, Cu 0, R. Aguilar 0.
Quarters: 39-25; 63-47; 79-71; 101-88.
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