SMB scores crucial win over ROS

MANILA, Philippines — CJ Perez came to the rescue as San Miguel Beer averted a late collapse and fended off Rain or Shine, 120-111, to inch closer to the coveted incentive in the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs last night in Cagayan de Oro City.

Perez fired nine in the fourth period spiked by a cold-blooded four-point shot as he keyed the Beermen’s recovery after ROS rallied from 25 down and got to within a point in the exciting windup.

As they emerged with their fourth straight victory in the heated matchup at the Aquilino Pimentel Convention Center, the Beermen climbed to 7-2 and kept its hold of second spot behind NLEX (8-2).

More importantly, they moved one W away from securing a Top 4 seeding and win-once bonus in the quarterfinals. The wards of coach Leo Austria have two opportunities to clinch it against Converge and NorthPort.

On the other hand, the Elasto Painters saw their two-game roll snapped and fell to 6-3 in a tie for sixth with the FiberXers.

Perez finished with a game-high 33 that he complemented with eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals in serving the role of closer as Don Trollano added 24, including a crucial triple and two free throws in the Beermen’s counter attack. June Mar Fajardo had 20 and nine boards.

Minus their main guys Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Justin Brownlee, TNT and Barangay Ginebra rekindle their rivalry tonight in a marquee duel at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Carrying identical 6-3 records, the rivals go at it at 7:30 p.m. with a pivotal seventh victory and a step closer to the coveted Top 4 seeding.