PBA Finals: San Miguel looks to regain ‘united’ identity

SCHEDULE: PBA Philippine Cup Finals San Miguel vs Meralco

San Migiuel Beermen’s CJ Perez during Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against Meralco Bolts. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

CJ Perez insists that rust wasn’t the main reason why Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals didn’t go San Miguel Beer’s way.

“Hindi lang talaga kami naglaro ng buo. Hindi yun yung San Miguel basketball (We just didn’t play as a unit, and that’s not the San Miguel way),” Perez said as the Beermen hope to atone for a 93-86 loss when the two teams meet again on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Another defeat in the 7:30 p.m. matchup will put the Beermen in a dangerous spot amid an all-Filipino campaign they have dominated, and the Bolts closer to their long chase for a first PBA championship.

READ: PBA Finals: Meralco still ‘absolutely’ has not cracked San Miguel code

Coach Luigi Trillo and Chris Newsome warned after Game 1 that the result won’t be an indication of how things will transpire in the series.

But unless it tries to iron out kinks in the armor and prevent Meralco from repeating what it did in the semifinals against Barangay Ginebra by being the one dictating everything, San Miguel could be in for some trouble.

“We need to adjust and we have to play our way, which is to distribute the ball well,” Perez continued in Filipino.

Perez’s foul issues, June Mar Fajardo’s challenge of facing a Meralco frontline determined to make life miserable for him, and offensive woes will be the things the Beermen were likely figuring out on Thursday and will try to resolve in time for Game 2 on Friday.

READ: PBA Finals: Meralco showing–not San Miguel rust–led to Game 1 loss, says June Mar

Meralco bucked a double-digit deficit in the second quarter, kept things tight in the third, before making stops that resulted in mostly transition baskets in the fourth quarter to gain a headstart in the Finals.

“We had a lot of turnovers, we didn’t move the ball well and we didn’t match their energy and their rebounding,” rued Perez.

He had 20 points but was 6-of-14 and was incensed with an offensive foul that was called after the referees reversed a blocking infraction on a Head Coach Challenge in the second.

It was San Miguel’s first game since May 26, when it made short work of Rain or Shine with a four-game sweep of the other semifinal series.

Romeo injury

Terrence Romeo was seen limping back to the locker room after that clinching victory, and didn’t see action in Game 1 despite having a long recovery time.

Even minus Romeo, the Beermen came into the series favored with their loaded talent. But it was the Bolts who came out with almost everyone stepping up, from leaders Newsome, Cliff Hodge and Chris Banchero right down to reserves Anjo Caram, Norbert Torres and Kyle Pascual.

San Miguel will hope to see guys like Mo Tautuaa, Simon Enciso and Jericho Cruz produce better numbers to further complement Perez, Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross and Don Trollano.