San Miguel’s CJ Perez. –PBA IMAGES
ANTIPOLO—CJ Perez played heavy minutes in his first taste of exhibition basketball as San Miguel Beer pounced on a Barangay Ginebra team that almost had an entirely-different roster with a 90-78 win on Sunday in the PBA On Tour at Ynares Center here.
Perez had 15 points, six rebounds and four assists in 34 minutes after sitting out the first two games of the series following his stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games to help the Beermen produce a beatdown over the Gin Kings.
Coach Jorge Gallent said Perez will play two more games for San Miguel, namely Rain or Shine on Wednesday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City and Meralco on Saturday in Tiaong, Quezon, before focusing on Gilas Pilipinas’ preparations for the Fiba World Cup.
“CJ really wanted to play because I think he’s gearing up also,” said Gallent. “He’s not out of shape but he’s out of basketball rhythm. So I’m just happy that he played today.”
Terrence Romeo scored 21 points on 9-of-20 shooting with three rebounds, two assists and two steals for San Miguel, which led by as much as 24 points.
The Beermen pulled the Gin Kings side that will play the duration of the PBA On Tour without big guns Scottie Thompson, Christian Standhardinger, Japeth Aguilar, Jamie Malonzo, LA Tenorio and possibly Stanley Pringle because of Gilas duties or injuries.
Coach Tim Cone showed up for the contest but did so as an observer as assistant Richard del Rosario called the shots for the team that has a mixture of its regular players and those from Ginebra’s PBA 3×3 team.
Kim Aurin, one of Ginebra’s players on the halfcourt scene, led all Gin Kings scorers in a losing effort with 18 points.
The scores:
SAN MIGUEL 90—Romeo 21, Cruz 18, Perez 15, Brondial 12, Bulanadi 10, Lee 8, Faundo 3, Baclao 2, Tautuaa 1, Apacible 0, De Vera 0.
GINEBRA 78—Aurin 18, Mariano 17, Aguilar R. 14, Gray 9, Pessumal 6, Salcedo 4, Espanola 3, Pinto 3, David 2, Dillinger 2, Gumaru 0.
Quarters: 23-13, 45-27, 71-52, 90-78.