Perez endgame explosion propels San Miguel past TNT in Finals Game 3

In a dramatic turn of events, CJ Perez rose above a heated exchange with his coach to seize control in the fourth quarter, unleashing a breathtaking scoring spree.

With back-to-back three-pointers in the dying seconds, Perez propelled San Miguel Beer to a thrilling 95-89 victory, securing crucial back-to-back wins and a commanding 2-1 lead over TNT in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup best-of-seven finals on Sunday at the MOA Arena.

His rapid seven-point surge ignited a 9-0 run for the Beermen, reversing the momentum in a tense matchup that saw the Tropang 5G briefly take the lead at 89-86, courtesy of a 10-0 run led by Rey Nambatac, Calvin Oftana, and Henry Galinato.

San Miguel, with the powerhouse duo of June Mar Fajardo and Moala Tautuaa, initially surged ahead with a strong 33-19 advantage. However, the Tropang 5G found their rhythm in the second quarter, rallying to a 50-44 lead by halftime.

Oftana and his teammates maintained their edge through the third quarter, but the Beermen retaliated, setting the stage for a thrilling back-and-forth finish.

In the end, San Miguel laughed last, augmenting their momentum following a dominant 111-92 win in Game 2, thanks largely to Perez’s explosive performance.

Don Trollano led the charge for TNT with 19 points, while June Mar Fajardo contributed 16 points along with a staggering 27 rebounds, furthering his team’s success. Mo Tautuaa (14) and Marcio Lassiter (10) also delivered solid performances, bolstering San Miguel’s commanding position in the series.