SMB dispatches Ginebra, sets up grudge rematch with TNT

Sports

CJ Perez started like a house on fire and the San Miguel Beermen torched the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 101-88, to advance to the Finals of the 50th PBA Philippine Cup on Friday night, Jan. 16, at the Araneta Coliseum.

Perez was sensational in the opening period of Game 6, going 12-for-12 from the field to explode for 30 points as he outscored the entire Ginebra squad in the first 12 minutes of play.

Behind Perez, the Beermen ended the first quarter with a 39-25 lead. It was all San Miguel from that point on as Ginebra’s mini run in the final period fell short.

Thus, the Beermen won the best-of-seven series, 4-2, and set a title match with the TNT Tropang 5G, who came up with 4-1 win in their own semifinal duel with the Meralco Bolts.

It will be a grudge rematch between the two finalists as the Beermen and the Tropa also faced each other in the Philippine Cup Finals last season. The Beermen won the title match that denied the Tropa a rare grandslam.

After his first-quarter explosion, Perez would only score nine 11 points in the next three periods for a 41-point output.

Don Trollano finished what Perez started as he scored the bulk of his 23 points in the final half.

With Perez and Trollano combining for 64 points, the Beermen pulled through despite getting just four points from nine-time MVP June Mar Fajardo.

Leading the Kings was Scottie Thompson, who totaled 24 points. Norbert Torres added 13 markers while RJ Abarrientos and Japeth Aguilar had 12 and 10, respectively.

THE SCORES:

SAN MIGUEL (101) - Perez 41, Trollano 23, Ross 8, Tautuaa 8, Fajardo 4, Cruz 4, Brondial 4, Lassiter 3, Tiongson 3, Cahilig 3.

GINEBRA (88) - Thompson 24, Torres 13, Abarrientos 12, J. Aguilar 10, , Holt 8, Gray 8, David 5, Rosario 3, Pinto 3, Estil 2, Cu 0, R. Aguilar 0.QUARTERSCORES: 39-25, 63-47, 79-71, 101-88.(CCM)