CJ Perez led a seven-man wrecking crew that pushed the San Miguel Beermen into the semifinal round of the 2021 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.
The 6’2” Perez unloaded 21 points in a 21-minute performance that helped ease out the NorthPort Batang Pier, 100-95, on Thursday.
Mo Tautuaa, Marcio Lassiter, Junemar Fajardo, Chris Ross, Arwind Santos and Terrence Romeo also scored in double digits for the Beermen, who finished with a two-game sweep of their best-of-three quarterfinal series with the Batang Pier at the DHVSU Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
“There’s no need for us to go into a third game. Because a third game for us is a do-or-die. You can expect anything from your opponent in Game 3,” said Beermen coach Leo Austria.
Perez kept the Beermen out of range in the last 44 seconds with his split free throw, 97-91.
Batang Pier managed to come close for the last time at 93-97 in the final 34 seconds, off Greg Slaughter’s putback.
But Ross, who had 11 points with Santos and Romeo, converted two charities in the final 31 seconds in keeping the Beermen ahead, 99-93.
Tautuaa added 17 points for the Beermen, who kept their poise while fending off repeated rallies in the final quarter from the Batang Pier.
Romeo’s triple with 6:24 to go gave the Beermen an 11-point lead at 89-78, before Lassiter, who had 15 points, protected SMB’s advantage with his trey, 92-85, in the remaining 4:40.
Slaughter showed the way for the Batang Pier with 27 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks, while Sidney Onwuberre added 14.
The Beermen advanced to a best-of-three semifinal duel with the TNT Tropang Giga this weekend.
The top-seeded Tropang Giga took down Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 84-71, on Wednesday night to claim the first semis berth in the Final Four.
Tropang Giga’s triumph ended Ginebra’s title reign in the all-Filipino tourney.
Troy Rosario topscored for Tropang Giga with 15 points, five rebounds and three assists.
The Beermen are coming into their semis encounter with the Tropang Giga as the only team which has beaten them this season.
