(PBA image)
CJ Perez was still trying to wrap his head around what had just happened, and who could blame him. On Friday night, the San Miguel Beer guard delivered a shooting display for the ages, one that not only buried Barangay Ginebra’s title hopes but also carved his name alongside some of the most revered scorers in PBA history.
Perez erupted for 30 points in the opening quarter as San Miguel pulled away early and never looked back in a 101-88 closeout victory over Barangay Ginebra in Game 6 of their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. By the time the first quarter buzzer sounded, the Beermen had seized a commanding 39-25 lead, setting the tone for their return to the Finals.
That explosive start placed Perez in an elite group previously occupied only by Allan Caidic and Bong Alvarez, the only local players to score at least 30 points in a single quarter. Perez didn’t just join them — he did it with ruthless efficiency.
“Nung nashoot ko yung una at pangalawa, tapos yung pangatlo at pang-apat, tinira ko na lang. Nung pumapasok, dun tumaas na yung kumpiyansa ko,” Perez said, reflecting on the rhythm that quickly took over his night.
The confidence never left. Perez finished with a career-high 41 points, highlighted by a flawless first quarter in which he made all 12 of his attempts — including three triples and a four-point shot. That perfect shooting stretch broke the previous first-quarter mark of 9-for-9 set by Cyrus Baguio during the 2010 Fiesta Conference.
The performance inevitably drew comparisons to PBA scoring folklore. Caidic once poured in 37 points in a single quarter during his legendary 79-point game for Tivoli against Ginebra in the 1991 Third Conference semifinals, a night that also featured a still-unmatched 17 three-pointers. Alvarez, meanwhile, dropped 30 in the fourth quarter of his own 71-point explosion for Alaska against Shell in the 1990 First Conference, according to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon.
Perez’s barrage gave San Miguel a cushion that proved vital when Ginebra attempted a late rally in the fourth quarter. Each push by the Kings was met with timely stops and steady execution from the Beermen, who calmly shut the door to complete the series.
“Sobrang grateful lang na pumasok nang maaga yung mga tira namin, at maganda yung depensa namin,” Perez said.
With Ginebra dispatched, San Miguel now turns its attention to a familiar foe. The Beermen are set for a championship rematch with the TNT Tropang 5G, with the Finals tipping off on Wednesday — and with Perez coming in hotter than ever, the stage is set for another high-stakes showdown.
