CJ to the rescue
As frustrating as it may be to be saddled by early foul trouble, it didn’t prevent CJ Perez from helping San Miguel Beer pick up a crucial win at this infant stage of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
“Pumunta ako dito para magbasketball, ‘di magpa-cute sa bench (I came here to play basketball, not look cute on the bench),” Perez said after atoning for his foul woes with another fourth-quarter hero act that propelled the Beermen past sibling rival Barangay Ginebra, 85-82, on Easter Sunday.
Perez delivered 15 of his 20 points in the final period, while also delivering the pass for Don Trollano, whose triple with eight seconds left broke the last deadlock and eventually gave San Miguel a second straight win and a 3-2 record.
Coming through in pressure-packed situations is nothing new for Perez, especially this season, but his latest showing has San Miguel slowly gaining traction after dropping two of its first three games of the conference.
“It’s very frustrating to be in foul trouble,” said Perez, who was scoreless when he picked up his fourth foul in the first half. “But I stayed composed and just played my game in the second half and it eventually paid off.
“We’re grateful that we won,” Perez added as San Miguel stayed unbeaten in two games with new import Justin Patton.
Patton was impressive for the second straight time with 19 points and 17 rebounds.
Perez added eight rebounds, three assists and three steals in the matchup, where San Miguel was trailing at the start and trailed by 11 in the second half before rallying behind its star guard.
Barangay Ginebra couldn’t convert a tying three on the ensuing possession and it settled for a 2-2 slate after a night that saw coach Tim Cone parade just eight players and missing an injured Japeth Aguilar.
Justin Brownlee missed two of four free throws down the stretch that opened a door for San Miguel to get the win. Still, coach Tim Cone didn’t leave the Big Dome frowning.
“I think we played well,” Cone said. “I didn’t think we shot the ball particularly well, but we also weren’t getting good shots, so credit to [San Miguel] on their defensive side.
“But I thought we did a good job in many areas of the game. We did what we wanted to do and sometimes you do everything you’re supposed to do and you’ll come up short against a team like this.”
Meanwhile, the first of a series of Tuesday doubleheaders begins at Ninoy Aquino Stadium with Bol Bol headlining the 7:30 p.m. nightcap of TNT (2-1) against Meralco (3-1).
Jerrick Ahanmisi, who saw action for Gilas Pilipinas in the Fiba 3×3 Asia Cup in Singapore, could likely see action for Terrafirma in its quest to bounce back from a first defeat of the conference when it battles Magnolia in the 5:15 p.m. curtain-raiser.
