The San Miguel Beermen and the Meralco Bolts battled in the previous season's PBA Philippine Cup Finals, with the latter emerging as champion.
It’s an early rematch between last year’s PBA Philippine Cup Finals protagonists.
This after San Miguel secured the top seed and the twice-to-beat incentive via a one-sided 126-91 whipping of NorthPort at the Ynares Center in Antipolo Sunday, June 15.
That set up a quarterfinal match between the Beermen and their conqueror, Meralco.
But past is past for Cjay Perez and the rest of the SMB crew.
“I think it’s a different ball game now. 'Yong Anakaraan is past na 'yon. Pero I think, sa effort namin at sa system nina coach, makababawi kami,” said Perez.
Perez was at the forefront of San Miguel’s attack against the Batang Pier, banging in a game-best 24 points.
He fueled the Beermen's first half showing, scattering 13 points there to aid his squad in building a commanding 57-38 lead.
It was all SMB from there.
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Jericho Cruz and Don Trollano fired 17 points each, Mo Tautuaa had 14, while June Mar Fajardo added 10 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals.
The Beermen finished the elims with an 8-3 card.
“We treated this game as the start of a best-of-three,” said San Miguel mentor Leo Austria.
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Joshua Munzon paced NorthPort with 19 points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal.
Cade Flores posted a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds that went with two assists and two steals, while Fran Yu and Jerick Balanza scored 11 points each as the Batang Pier only ended up with just two wins to show in the All-Filipino conference.
San Miguel vs. NorthPort scores:
SAN MIGUEL 126 – Perez 24, Cruz 17, Trollano 17, Tautuaa 14, Fajardo 10, Lassiter 10, Teng 9, Brondial 8, Tiongson 7, Cahilig 3, Rosales 2, Calma 2, Ross.
NORTHPORT 91 – Munzon 19, Flores 13, Balanza 11, Yu 11, Taha 9, Abueva 5, Nelle 5, Cuntapay 5, Bulanadi 5, Kwekuteye 5, Onwubere 3, Nava 0.
Quarterscores: 25-16, 57-38, 92-67, 126-91.