Cjay Perez caught fire early and San Miguel advanced to the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals.
On the night San Miguel clinched a Finals berth, Cjay Perez carved out a slice of history.
Perez dropped 30 points in the first quarter of the Beermen’s eventual 101-88 win over Ginebra in Game 6 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals.
According to the league's chief statistician, Fidel Mangonon, the San Miguel ace became only the third local to score at least 30 in any quarter.
[RELATED STORY: PBA: Cjay Perez drops record 30 points in 1Q of SMB’s Finals-clinching win vs Ginebra]
His output in the opener moved him to a tie with Bong Alvarez for the second all-time most scoring production in any period by any local.
Ahead of them at first is Allan Caidic, who scored 37 points in a single quarter.
Perez's 30-point barrage is also the most by any player, local or import, in an opening period of a game.
The 32-year-old slasher also went 12-for-12 from the field during that frame, the best perfect scoring clip by any player since Cyrus Baguio’s 9-of-9 field goal in the first period of Alaska’s 108-98 win over Coca Cola in the 2010 Fiesta Conference.
Perez ended up with a career-high 41 points as the Beermen marched on to the best-of-seven Finals against TNT.
“Grateful akong nakuha ko 'yong ganitong career high pero it will not stop here. I will continue to play hard and practice,” Perez said.
Game 1 of what is expected to be another classic series is set on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.