Perez's dagger four preserves big night from Fajardo as SMB survives Phoenix
At A Glance
- CJ Perez made sure to preserve a monster night from June Mar Fajardo, drilling a dagger four-pointer to help San Miguel Beer fend off a pesky Phoenix side, 111-107, in the Group B action of the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, Aug. 21.
CJ Perez made sure to preserve a monster night from June Mar Fajardo, drilling a dagger four-pointer to help San Miguel Beer fend off a pesky Phoenix side, 111-107, in the Group B action of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, Aug. 21.

Perez nailed the booming four over the outstretched arms of Javee Mocon with 57 seconds left as the Beermen held on against the repeated rally from the Fuel Masters to open their campaign on a winning note and join Rain or Shine on the win column in their group.
Fajardo, who declared his hope of winning the Most Valuable Player plum for another season after receiving his eighth, made sure to live by his words and quickly asserted his might and dropped a huge double-double of 37 points and 24 rebounds right on SMB’s opening game.
The 6-foot-10 center carried much of the load through the first three quarters before Perez and import Jordan Adams gave their share in the waning seconds with timely hits.
Perez fired 21 points –12 of which he unloaded in the second half while Adams added 24 points, including 10 in the final frame to go along with his nine rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Still it was Fajardo who put the Beermen back on the driver's seat after the Fuel Masters tied the game at 99-all after a booming trey from RJ Jazul with three minutes left in the contest.
Fajardo scored on a putback against three Phoenix players before a split on the charity gave SMB the lead for good. The Fuel Masters remained fighting with back-to-back hits from Ricci Rivero and Jayson Perkins but Perez put the nail on the coffin with the step to left four to take a 110-105 cushion.
Rivero tried to return the favor with his own attempt from the 27-feet mark but came a little short.
Perkins paced Phoenix with 18 points while Rivero added 15. Import Jayveous Mckinnis had a sloppy debut with only 13 points although he collared 15 rebounds.