Romwel Anzures

San Miguel Beermen star CJ Perez (right) against NLEX Road Warriors ace Robert Bolick (left) in their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup clash. Photo from PBA Images.

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1743859015017IMG_6670.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="San Miguel Beermen star CJ Perez (right) against NLEX Road Warriors ace Robert Bolick (left) in their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup clash. Photo from PBA Images."/>San Miguel Beermen star CJ Perez (right) against NLEX Road Warriors ace Robert Bolick (left) in their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup clash. Photo from PBA Images.</div>MANILA (UPDATED) — The San Miguel Beermen started its PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup championship chase on the right note. The perennial league powerhouse fended off the NLEX Road Warriors, 98-89, during their Saturday night matchup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila. CJ Perez led San Miguel Beer in scoring, putting up 28 points, four rebounds, and four assists for his squad, and backstopping him was Juami Tiongson who had 17 markers, a board, and a dime. “The defense of NLEX really took good care of our offense, and they knew what to do,” credited SMB head coach Leo Austria after the contest wherein they saw their 15-point lead cut late in the contest. “But something happened to the team. Yan yung sakit namin before, yung tendency to relax, so we extended our rotation to 11,” he added. Also solid was newly-minted 50 Greatest List member June Mar Fajardo, with the 6-foot-10 superstar posting 13 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists. On the other hand, San Miguel was able to limit the high-scoring Robert Bolick to only 12 points on 2-of-11 shooting with eight assists and three rebounds. The Beermen also managed to survive the late-game scare of the Road Warriors as the Jong Uichico-coached squad even tied the contest at 85. This was when Tiongson hit a huge triple for SMB at the 1:30 mark for an 88-85 lead, while Perez’s perfect trip from the foul line pushed their advantage to five. A few plays later, Mike Miranda’s four-pointer allowed NLEX to again close in to within a possession, 92-89, with still 18 seconds left, but Marcio Lassiter, Don Trollano, Jeron Teng, and Perez then went on to seal the contest from the foul line. Despite the win, however, Austria maintained that the Beermen are still far from rediscovering their fiery form. “I want them to set their mind na it’s different right now because we have to redeem ourselves after a disappointing conference,” he said. “We still have to improve on a lot of things. This is a new team from the San Miguel team from years ago. We need to have the winning attitude, and I think, slowly, by winning in our first few games, we can get that confidence,” Austria added. The Scores: San Miguel 98 – Perez 28, Tiongson 17, Fajardo 13, Trollano 12, Lassiter 8, Cahilig 6, Tautuaa 6, Teng 6, Brondial 2, Rosales 0, Ross 0. NLEX 89 – Miranda 15, Bolick 12, Mocon 11, Torres 11, Bahio 10, Ramirez 8, Alas 8, Herndon 7, Semerad 3, Nieto 2, Valdez 2, Rodger 0. Quarterscores: 28-20, 55-43, 75-65, 98-89<div>RELATED VIDEO:</div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DPPsORFuz6Y?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

The San Miguel Beermen started its PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup championship chase on the right note.

The San Miguel Beermen started its PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup championship chase on the right note.

PBA: San Miguel fends off NLEX to start All-Filipino championship chase

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PBA: San Miguel fends off NLEX to start All-Filipino championship chase

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 05, 2025 09:55 PM PHT

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Updated April 06, 2025 12:31 AM PHT

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