Fajardo, Perez to lead unbeaten San Miguel against red-hot Magnolia in early PBA clash of titans

June Mar Fajardo and CJay Perez are out to keep the San Miguel Beermen’s perfect run intact as they take on fellow unbeaten Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots in a marquee matchup in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup on Wednesday, April 16.

The match starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

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With both teams entering the heavyweight showdown at 2-0, the winner will grab an early lead—and perhaps a psychological edge moving forward in the All-Filipino conference.

San Miguel is coming off a thrilling 110-98 win over Meralco last April 9, a game played in throwback jerseys as part of the league’s 50th anniversary celebration.

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More than just a nod to PBA history, the victory doubled as a bit of sweet revenge for the Beermen, who lost to the Bolts in last season’s Philippine Cup Finals.

Now, the Beermen shift their focus to a Magnolia squad that looks just as dangerous.

As always, San Miguel will go as far as their stars take them. Fajardo remains a dominant force in the paint, while Perez continues to prove he’s one of the league’s most versatile and dynamic two-way threats.

Their veteran leadership will be key as the Beermen navigate another high-stakes battle early in the season.

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But standing in their way is a confident, fully healthy Hotshots unit featuring battle-tested leaders Mark Barroca and Ian Sangalang, as well as explosive young guns Zavier Lucero and Jerom Lastimosa. Magnolia is riding its own wave of momentum after back-to-back double-digit wins.

This early test could feel like a playoff preview—a battle of depth, experience, and execution. And for San Miguel, it’s another chance to flex their championship pedigree and send a message to the rest of the league: the Beermen are back, and they’re gunning for more.

(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)

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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]