SCHEDULE: 2024 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals
San Miguel Beermen’s CJ Perez during the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals Game 4 against Rain or Shine. -PBA IMAGES
Defending champion San Miguel clawed back from a double-digit deficit on Friday night and turned back Rain or Shine, 107-100, for a return trip to the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
Spitfire guard CJ Perez and club cornerstone June Mar Fajardo joined hands in the final frame to overhaul what was once a 19-point hole and sweep its Final Four showdown with the young but pesky Elastopainters.
“The player just did not quit. They played well, especially at the start of the fourth (quarter). So kudos to them for helping out each other inside [the game],” head coach Jorge Gallent said on the heels of the triumph at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
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Perez delivered 26 points including the tough triple with 25 ticks left that swung the tide for the Beermen. Fajardo, the reigning Most Valuable Player, chipped in 17 points that went with 23 boards and six assists.
Don Trollano added 20 points, Jericho Cruz 11, and Terrence Romeo 10 in the triumph.
The Beermen, who also ruled the Commissioner’s Cup, will try to extend their reign as All-Filipino champion when it plays the winner of the Barangay Ginebra-Meralco series which was earlier leveled by the crowd darlings at two games apiece.
Gian Mamuyac had 30 points for Rain or Shine, tying his finest production of his young career. Santi Santillian and Anton Asistio added at least 13 points each, but the Elastopainters trio’s offense conked out just as the Beermen were rediscovering theirs.