San Miguel and Rain or Shine need two more wins to secure a twice-to-beat advantage in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup playoffs. NLEX clinched the first one with a win against Magnolia on Friday, June 6.
With a twice-to-beat advantage on the line, the San Miguel Beermen look to keep their win streak alive when they face fellow playoff-bound Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Saturday, June 7.
The match starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Cagayan de Oro City Convention Center.
San Miguel, currently 6-2, rides into the provincial showcase on a three-game roll—most recently a dominant 115-78 dismantling of Blackwater last May 25. That victory came despite the absence of Juami Tiongson, Marcio Lassiter, and Jeron Teng, all of whom were sidelined due to sore eyes.
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This time, the Beermen will have their full lineup back in action, giving them a timely boost as they look to fortify their bid for a top-four finish in the Philippine Cup eliminations.
Even without their veteran trio, San Miguel hardly missed a beat in their previous outing. CJay Perez powered the offense with 20 points and a pair of steals, while June Mar Fajardo continued his steady presence in the paint with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks. Don Trollano added 15 points in a balanced team effort.
Now armed with a complete cast, the Beermen face a Rain or Shine squad that’s also heating up at 6-3, having won its last two games.
But with momentum and firepower on their side, San Miguel will aim to take another big step toward the coveted playoff incentive—and give fans in Cagayan de Oro a show worth remembering.
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]