The San Miguel Beermen eked out a thrilling 85-82 victory over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. This win, led by Cjay Perez and Don Trollano, improved San Miguel’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup record to an even 2-2 while sending Ginebra to the same even slate.
What Happened?
Ginebra got off to a rousing start, building a 26-12 first-quarter lead on the strength of two triples apiece from Justin Brownlee and Isaac Go. That red-hot shooting, though, was nowhere to be found in the second as San Miguel held Ginebra to just 10 measly points to all but wipe out that early deficit and enter halftime just down by one, 46-45.
Ginebra’s three-point shooting came alive again after intermission as the Barangay hit six more from deep to reestablish control after three, 66-58. CJay Perez then took over in the fourth, firing 17 of his 20 to set the stage for a frantic, thrilling finish that saw the two teams wind up tied at 82 with 37 seconds remaining and the Beermen with the ball.
The Barangay actually got the stop it needed but failed to secure the rebound, giving San Miguel another opportunity. Perez got the ball from straightaway, drove hard right, and then fired a pass to an open Don Trollano as Troy Rosario helped out. The veteran sniper did the rest. The Beermen then held firm on the final possession, denying Brownlee a clean look to seal the win.
Who Stood Out?
The hero of this game was no doubt Cjay Perez. Plagued by foul trouble in the first three quarters, Perez came alive in the fourth, spearheading an 18-0 run bridging the third and fourth frames to wipe out Ginebra’s 66-58 lead. In all, Perez had 17 in that final, fateful quarter, aside from issuing the assist that led to the game-winner.
For Ginebra, it was Justin Brownlee who did the heavy lifting, ultimately ending up with a game-high 31 points on top of 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. RJ Abarrientos stood out in the first three quarters and wound up with 16 points and 7 assists before getting benched down the stretch, ostensibly for defensive purposes.
3 Keys to the Game
- Cjay Perez. The last time these two teams met, at the PBA Philippine Cup semis, The Predator made all the difference with his historic first quarter. This time, Perez changed the game with his superb performance in the fourth canto.
- Offensive rebounds. San Miguel crushed Ginebra on the boards, 63-44, and nowhere was this more evident than on the offensive side of things, where the Beermen outrebounded Ginebra, 25-12, for a 13-6 advantage in second-chance points. That last offensive rebound, incidentally, led to the game-winning three.
- Championship poise. All credit to the Beermen for not panicking even in the face of Ginebra’s early onslaught and third-quarter storm. Instead, they came back each time, ultimately taking things down the wire. Then, with the game on the line, Trollano and Perez delivered.
Next Up for the PBA
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 Ninoy Aquino Stadium
Terrafirma Dyip vs. Magnolia Hotshots (5:00 p.m.)
Meralco Bolts vs. TNT Tropang 5G (7:30 p.m.)
