San Miguel Beermen’s CJ Perez in Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–The breaks went into San Miguel Beer’s way down the stretch and outlasted Barangay Ginebra, 92-90, Wednesday to draw first blood in their best-of-five semifinal series in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
San Miguel made just two of its last six free throws, all coming from June Mar Fajardo after Ginebra tied the count entering the final minute, but made up for it with key stops in the end to escape with a win that could set the tone for a hard-fought encounter between the sister teams.
CJ Perez came up huge for the Beermen, posting a conference-high 26 points while also coming through with a huge offensive rebound during the rollercoaster finish.
SCHEDULE: PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals
Game 2 is set Friday at Mall of Asia Arena, with San Miguel hoping to close in on avenging last season’s semifinal sweep in the Governors’ Cup at the hands of Ginebra.
Import Bennie Boatwright was held to a conference-low 23 points against a Ginebra defense that forced him into tough spots. Boatwright did come away with the steal when Gin Kings counterpart Tony Bishop tried to pass the ball to Christian Standhardinger for a potential tie or winning three in the final seconds.
IT’S CRUNCH TIME.
Christian Standhardinger sinks a bucket plus a foul to cut the lead to two, 90-88, with Beermen leading. | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/flksQ8THiq
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) January 24, 2024
June Mar Fajardo added 18 points and nine rebounds for San Miguel.
Standhardinger finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds but Ginebra fell one game behind in the series.
Bishop tied the game at 90-all after San Miguel went up by five. Fajardo, however, put the lead back to the Beermen, splitting two charities with 23 seconds to go after being fouled by Standhardinger down low.
Standhardinger missed a medium-range jumper and San Miguel’s Chris Ross muffed two foul shots, the first attempt didn’t even hit the rim. Fajardo, however, pulled the offensive rebound and hit another split from the 15-foot line, missing the second that set the stage for the Boatwright interception.
SAN MIGUEL-GINEBRA SCORES
SAN MIGUEL 92—Perez 26, Boatwright 23, Fajardo 18, Trollano 10, Lassiter 7, Cruz 6, Teng 2, Ross 0, Enciso 0, Tautuaa 0.
GINEBRA 90—Standhardinger 21, Bishop 20, Thompson 15, Malonzo 11, Pringle 9, Ahanmisi 6, J.Aguilar 6, Tenorio 0, Pessumal 0.
Quarters: 28-20, 47-47, 73-73, 92-90.