San Miguel Beer displayed exceptional teamwork in their 120-100 victory over NorthPort, securing their spot in the quarterfinals of the PBA Philippine Cup. With a total of 31 assists, coach Jorge Gallent emphasized the importance of sharing the ball to make the team a formidable force on the court.
Despite exploding with 29 points, CJ Perez contributed six assists, while Terrence Romeo led with seven. Even big man June Mar Fajardo got in on the action with three assists along with 12 points and nine rebounds. The Beermen’s well-coordinated offense overwhelmed the Batang Pier, who suffered their fourth consecutive loss.
In another game, Converge battled back from a 12-point deficit to claim a crucial 104-99 victory against the Meralco Bolts. Ending a winless streak in the All-Filipino conference, the FiberXers showed resilience and determination to secure their first victory in the tournament and break a string of 12 consecutive losses dating back to the previous Commissioner’s Cup.
Coach Aldin Ayo praised his team’s perseverance, stating, “We didn’t lose hope when the losses were piling up. On the contrary, the players, the entire team became even more motivated.” Despite being out of contention for the playoffs, Converge’s hard-fought win proved their commitment and fighting spirit on the court.
