After ceding a 106-95 decision against Terrafirma, San Miguel is raring to go at it again on Wednesday in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup quarterfinals.
San Miguel star CJ Perez was among the few who were not shocked as Terrafirma cut the top seed Beermen down to size in their PBA Season 48 quarterfinals encounter last May 11.
“Hindi ako nagulat kasi they’ve been playing well,” said Perez of the no. 8 Dyip.
Perez said it’s a completely different Terrafirma now from the team he left in 2021 via trade.
The loser tag no longer applies to the Dyip, who entered the playoff picture after edging NorthPort in a one-game knockout for the no. 8 spot.
“Iba na yung Terrafirma. Di tulad nung dati na pag kalaban mo Terrafirma, sabi nila, ‘Matic na’ (panalo ka),” he said.
“Pero ngayon di na. Di mo pwede i-underestimate sila. They got good players. May mga superstars na sila.”
The Dyip now boast of Juami Tiongson, who made his first All-Star appearance this year thanks in large part to his scoring prowess. There’s also Rookie of the Year leader Stephen Holt, who can pretty much do anything on both ends of the floor.
The two played inspired basketball with the Dyip’s backs against the wall, with Tiongson topscoring with 29 points in the 106-95 win at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Holt, who is also running second in the Best Player of the Conference race, fired 25 points.
Tiongson, Holt, and the rest of Terrafirma eye a repeat of such conquest when the two teams meet anew on Wednesday, May 15.
Gametime is set at 4:30 pm at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, ushering the double header that will also see TNT and Rain or Shine dispute the other semifinal berth in the main game.
It’s not the first time Perez and the Beermen find themselves in a do-or-die situation though, and if there’s one thing every fan knows about SMB, it’s that this mighty franchise will be raring to retaliate with their season on the line.
“Kaiangan naming mag adjust. Share the ball and play defense,” said Perez.