San Miguel Beermen guard CJ Perez.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–On a roll from the start of the tournament, San Miguel tapped on that head of steam it built thus far on Sunday night to dispatch undermanned NLEX, 120-103, and claim the No. 1 spot in the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations.
CJ Perez finished with 30 points and nine rebounds, while seven-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo 20 and 21 for the defending champions who extended their unbeaten start to nine games–11 if one were to count the last two games they won in the championship series of the last conference.
“The (players) handled (the game) very well. When the lead went down, they brought back the energy and then we were fine again,” Jorge Gallent said following the triumph at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City and after his charges clinched the top seed as no other team can reach nine wins.
San Miguel Beer center June Mar Fajardo.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Terrence Romeo chipped in 15 points off the bench, while Marcio Lassiter, Don Trollano, and Jericho Cruz all tossed in twin-digit scores in the win over the enemy who was missing its top gun.
READ: PBA: San Miguel hikes unbeaten run to 8-0, fends off Magnolia
The Road Warriors played without crafty guard Robert Bolick, who begged off from the match to be by his wife’s side following the birth of his first child.
NLEX thus turned to rookies Enoch Valdez, who turned in 18 points, and Jan Nermal who delivered 16 in the losing effort that had the club sliding to its third defeat and missing out on a big chance to bolster its own bid of tabbing a playoff protection. They dropped to a 5-4 win-loss mark.
San Miguel is now two wins away from sweeping the preliminaries and will have a chance to extend its unbeaten run when it plunges back into action this Wednesday.
“We’re just going step-by-step. As of now we just think of the 10th game, which is Blackwater,” said Gallent.
The Scores:
SAN MIGUEL 120 – Perez 30, Fajardo 20, Romeo 15, Cruz 15, Lassiter 14, Trollano 14, Enciso 6, Brondial 4, Teng 2, Tautuaa 0, Ross 0.
NLEX 103 – Valdez 18, Nermal 16, Nieto 14, Anthony 12, Herndon 11, Rodger 8, Miranda 7, Semerad 7, Fajardo 4, Amer 2, Taha 2.
Quarterscores: 25-15, 50-41, 83-71, 120-103.