San Miguel Beer has punched its ticket back to the PBA Philippine Cup Finals, setting up a highly anticipated championship rematch against the TNT Tropang Giga. The Beermen secured their spot by eliminating the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings with a decisive 101-88 victory in Game 6 of their semifinal series on Friday, January 16, 2026, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
CJ Perez's Historic First Quarter Onslaught
The story of the night was the explosive performance of San Miguel guard CJ Perez. Perez came out on an absolute tear, single-handedly outscoring the entire Ginebra squad in the opening period. He poured in 30 points in the first quarter alone without missing a single shot, connecting from two-point range, beyond the arc, and the free-throw line.
This incredible outburst tied the legendary Bong Alvarez's mark from 1990 and brought Perez within striking distance of Allan Caidic's all-time PBA record of 37 points in a single quarter. Perez's early dominance allowed San Miguel to build a commanding 19-point lead by halftime, setting the tone for the entire contest.
Team Effort Seals the Series Win
When Perez encountered foul trouble later in the game, Don Trollano stepped up to shoulder the scoring load. Trollano delivered crucial baskets down the stretch to help San Miguel withstand Ginebra's repeated comeback attempts. The Kings managed to trim the deficit to just six points at one stage, but the Beermen displayed their championship composure to close out the game.
Perez finished with a new career-high of 41 points, while Trollano added 23, combining for 64 points. In a testament to the team's balance, reigning MVP June Mar Fajardo contributed a massive 18 rebounds despite scoring only four points.
Coaches and Players React
San Miguel head coach Leo Austria praised his team for seizing the moment. "We don't want to wait for another conference to get back to the finals. We have the opportunity and we don't want to waste it," Austria stated. "The guys responded. It's money time and they stepped up."
For the losing side, Scottie Thompson led Ginebra with 24 points. He received support from Norbert Torres (13 points), RJ Abarrientos (12 points), and Japeth Aguilar (10 points).
The victory gives San Miguel a 4-2 series win and sets the stage for "Last Dance II"—a finals rematch against the TNT Tropang Giga. Fans are now eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this classic PBA rivalry.
Final Scores:
San Miguel 101 -- Perez 41, Trollano 23, Ross 8, Tautuaa 8, Fajardo 4, Cruz 4, Brondial 4, Lassiter 3, Tiongson 3, Cahilig 3.
Ginebra 88 -- Thompson 24, Torres 13, Abarrientos 12, J. Aguilar 10, Holt 8, Gray 8, David 5, Rosario 3, Pinto 3, Estil 2, Cu 0, R. Aguilar 0.
Quarters: 39-25, 63-47, 79-71, 101-88.
