PBA: San Miguel clinches playoffs berth with rout of NorthPort

San Miguel waxed hot right from the get-go and never looked back to frustrate slumping NorthPort, 120-100, and book the first quarterfinals berth in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday at the PhilSports Arena.

CJ Perez showed his leadership with an all-around outing of 29 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and a steal to carry the Beermen to a 7-0 slate. The Batang Pier, meanwhile, have now lost four games in a row for a 4-5 card. 

The only time NorthPort held a lead was after a Damie Cuntapay triple early in the opening frame. It was all San Miguel since then as the Beermen even enjoyed as much as 39 points, 114-75, with a Don Trollano basket late in the fourth. 

NorthPort struggled to close the gap even if it outscored San Miguel in the payoff period, 29 to 15. 

Mo Tautuaa stepped up with 15 points off the bench, while Marcio Lassiter fired four triples to finish with 14 markers. Lassiter has also emerged as the fourth player in the all-time three-point leaderboard. 

Arvin Tolentino was among the bright spots for NorthPort, finishing with 26 points, nine rebounds, and four assists while Joshua Munzon and Zavier Lucero chimed in with 10 markers apiece. 

Scores:

San Miguel 120 – Perez 29, Tautuaa 15, Lassiter 14, Trollano 13, Fajardo 12, Teng 10, Enciso 9, Brondial 8, Ross 6, Romeo 4, Mallilin 0.

NorthPort 100 – Tolentino 26, Lucero 10, Bulanadi 10, Cuntapay 9, Zamar 8, Adamos 4, Flores 4, Amores 4, Rosales 3, Taha 3, Paraiso 3, Yu 2, Chan 2, Navarro 2.

Quarters: 36-27, 72-47, 105-71, 120-100.

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News