PBA: CJ Perez, Don Trollano heroics lift San Miguel past Barangay Ginebra

CJ Perez and Don Trollano took charge when it mattered most as San Miguel escaped Barangay Ginebra, 85-82, in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Perez dropped 15 of his total output in the fourth to lead their comeback from a 15-point deficit before issuing the pass that led to Trollano's game-winning triple in the final 8.3 seconds, steering the Beermen to their first back-to-back wins and improving their record to 3-2.

Perez finished with 20 points together with eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals while American import Justin Patton posted a double-double outing of 19 markers and 17 boards. Trollano had 12 points off the bench while June Mar Fajardo churned out 13 boards and six points.

The Beermen played catch-up almost the entire game with the Gin Kings racing to a 66-58 cushion to end the third.

But the Beermen turned to Perez for the comeback act as the former MVP converted three consecutive baskets before burying a step-back three-pointer to give San Miguel a 74-68 cushion early in the final frame.

Justin Brownlee carried Ginebra’s counterattack on his shoulders, dragging the Gin Kings to within two until Troy Rosario delivered the equalizer to knot the game at 78-all.

Perez answered with two straight baskets, but his Gilas Pilipinas teammate Justin Brownlee continued to carry Ginebra, converting a layup and sinking his free throws to make it 82–81 with 1:07 remaining.

Brownlee had a chance to put Ginebra back on top, but he split his free throws after a foul by Perez, resulting in another deadlock at 82-all.

Fajardo tried to win it from beyond the arc but came up short. Perez, however, grabbed the offensive rebound and set up Trollano for a three-pointer right in front of the San Miguel bench.

Brownlee had 31 points in the loss while also adding three rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks while RJ Abarrientos and Stephen Holt posted 16 and 11 markers each. 

Scores:

San Miguel 85 – Perez 20, Patton 19, Trollano 12, Tautuaa 8, Rosales 6, Cahilig 6, Fajardo 6, Lassiter 4, Cruz 4, Tiongson 0.

Barangay Ginebra 82 – Brownlee 31, Abarrientos 16, Holt 11, Rosario 7, Go 6, Torres 5, Thompson 3, Gray 3.

Quarters: 12-26, 35-36, 58-66, 85-82.

—JKC, GMA News