Rain or Shine threatened to turn things around behind Adrian Nocum. But San Miguel's Cjay Perez and Don Trollano had other plans.
Cjay Perez sized up Adrian Nocum on top of the key, faked a drive, then backpedaled to set up a shot from the four-point line at the Aquilino Pimentel Jr. International Convention Center in Cagayan de Oro.
The quadruple went in, which proved to be the dagger in San Miguel’s thrilling 120-111 win over Rain or Shine in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Saturday, June 7.
Perez was the riposte when the Elasto Painters pushed the Beermen to the edge, with Nocum leading their comeback attempt in the fourth period.
There, the RoS rising star Nocum dropped 16 big points, but the former Best Player of the Conference Perez answered with nine of his own.
In the end, it was Perez who shone the brightest, finishing with 33 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals to lead SMB's victorious march to the finish line.
[ALSO READ: Summer Vacay, Slay! Cjay Perez wants to bring this San Miguel teammate on a trip to Bali]
Perez earned Player of the Game honors for his performance, but his teammates also did their part.
Don Trollano was the first to restore order for the Beermen when Nocum’s transition basket trimmed what was once a 25-point lead to one, 102-103, with still 5:08 left to play.
The former Adamson standout scored five in SMB's quick 7-0 attack, before Perez put the finishing touches to the road win.
Trollano wound up with 24 points, four rebounds, an assist and three steals.
June Mar Fajardo made sure he kept in step with the fast-paced game and ended up with 20 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Marcio Lassiter added 16 points.
San Miguel improved to a 7-2 mark and inched closer to the win-once incentive in the playoffs.
[ALSO READ: PBA: Jordan Heading ready to ‘do his role, complement teammates’ for Grand Slam-seeking TNT]
Down for most of the match, Rain or Shine stormed back from a 58-83 deficit late in the third quarter as Nocum ignited a 13-3 rally Nocum at the beginning of the fourth.
Nocum was all over the court after a quiet first three quarters.
But when he got his bearings going in the payoff period, the RoS quintet followed suit.
Their efforts ultimately proved futile, and the Elasto Painters dropped to 6-4.
Nocum finished with 22 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two blocks against Perez.
But it was Andrei Caracut who topscored for the team with 24 points and seven boards.
San Miguel vs. Rain or Shine scores:
San Miguel 120 – Perez 33, Trollano 24, Fajardo 20, Lassiter 16, Tiongson 8, Cruz 6, Ross 4, Brondial 4, Cahilig 3, Tautuaa 2.
Rain or Shine 111 – Caracut 24, Nocum 22, Clarito 17, Datu 12, Santillan 10, Mamuyac 9, Tiongson 7, Porter 5, Asistio 5, Norwood 0.
Quarterscores: 30-25, 60-43, 93-78, 120-111.