CJ Perez delivered when it mattered most, erupting in the final quarter to lift San Miguel Beer to a 95–89 victory over TNT Tropang 5G and a 2–1 lead in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals on Sunday night at the Mall of Asia Arena. In a game that swung repeatedly, Perez’s late scoring burst proved decisive, turning a deficit into control in the closing minute.
The win keeps San Miguel firmly in command of a fiercely contested best-of-seven series, following back-to-back victories after dropping Game 1.
Clutch Shots Turn the Tide
For much of the night, Perez struggled to impose himself, scoring just three points across the first three quarters. That changed dramatically in the fourth. Seventeen of his 20 points came in the final period, capped by a sequence that will be replayed throughout the series.
With San Miguel trailing 86–89 with 50 seconds remaining, Perez drilled a rare four-point play and followed it moments later with a deep three-pointer, suddenly flipping the game on its head. The Beermen surged ahead 93–89, never relinquishing the lead. Free throws from Marcio Lassiter sealed the outcome.
The burst drew an emotional call from the broadcast booth as Perez asserted himself as the game’s closer, a reminder of why he remains one of the league’s most feared perimeter scorers.
Fajardo Controls the Interior
While Perez owned the spotlight late, June Mar Fajardo quietly authored a dominant interior performance. The San Miguel cornerstone finished with 16 points and an astonishing 27 rebounds, anchoring both ends of the floor and repeatedly denying TNT second-chance opportunities.
Don Trollano added 19 points, Mo Tautuaa chipped in 14, and Lassiter contributed 10 as San Miguel leaned on balance rather than volume shooting to manage the contest.
TNT’s Strong Middle Quarters Fall Short
TNT appeared to be in control for long stretches after a slow start. After falling behind 33–19 in the opening quarter, the Tropang 5G responded with composure, taking a 50–44 halftime lead and extending it to 72–67 by the end of the third.
Calvin Oftana led all scorers with 25 points, delivering an efficient, turnover-free performance. Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser posted a rugged all-around line of 15 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and two blocks, while Jayson Heading and Rey Nambatac added timely perimeter scoring.
Yet when the pressure peaked, TNT’s offence stalled, undone by Perez’s shot-making and San Miguel’s experience in late-game situations.
Halftime Tension, Second-Half Unity
San Miguel coach Leo Austria revealed that the night was not without internal challenge. A halftime altercation threatened to distract the Beermen, but Austria said it ultimately sharpened the team’s focus.
“During the first half, nagkaroon kami ng altercation,” Austria said, explaining that a candid exchange and subsequent apology helped restore unity. “Na-focus [siya] and ’yung focus niya to win. We have to unite para hindi maapektuhan ang team.”
The response was evident in the fourth quarter, where San Miguel executed with discipline and calm.
Series Poised on a Knife’s Edge
For TNT, the loss was difficult to absorb. Nambatac described it simply as a “masakit na pagkatalo” — a painful defeat — while maintaining belief that the series remains open.
Through three games, the Finals have showcased contrasting styles: TNT’s athletic, perimeter-oriented attack against San Miguel’s size, patience and late-game poise. With all games confined to Metro Manila venues, the margins have been thin, the swings dramatic.
Beyond the Arena
As the series intensifies, the impact stretches well beyond Pasay City. Across the Philippines, fans gather in barangays, sari-sari stores and packed living rooms, following each possession as if it were personal. The PBA’s flagship all-Filipino conference continues to serve as both entertainment and cultural touchstone, inspiring grassroots leagues and sustaining a vast ecosystem of players, staff and vendors.
Game 4 now looms as a pivotal moment. San Miguel stands two wins away from the title, but TNT has shown enough resolve to signal that the Finals are far from settled.
What is certain is that, in Game 3, CJ Perez reminded everyone that championships often hinge on a single player’s willingness to take — and make — the biggest shots of the night.
