PBA: Perez drops 34, Lassiter delivers game-winner as San Miguel evens series vs Meralco

CJ Perez dropped a playoffs career-high and season-high 34 points, while Marcio Lassiter delivered the game-winning triple for the San Miguel Beermen, 95-94, in Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup finals against the Meralco Bolts on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The series is now tied at one game apiece as Meralco took Game 1 last Wednesday.

Meralco was leading 90-89 with 1:05 remaining in the fourth period before Chris Banchero drilled a triple which gave the Bolts a four-point lead with 27 seconds left.

After a timeout called by the Beermen, Perez connected from downtown to put San Miguel within one. After Meralco called for time, Lassiter fouled Chris Banchero which brought the latter to the line where he made a split. Lassiter then drilled a triple which handed the Beermen the lead and would eventually become the dagger.

Banchero missed his layup late in the game, while CJ Perez missed his free throws off an Allein Maliksi foul as the Beermen equalized the best-of-seven series.

Aside from his 34-point outing, Perez had five assists and four rebounds, while June Mar Fajardo registered another double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Perez' 34-point outing also equaled his second career-best and highest output as a San Miguel player.

Cliff Hodge, meanwhile, was a rebound shy from a double-double with 25 points and nine rebounds. Banchero, on the other hand, had 16 points.

Game 3 of the finals will be played on Sunday at the same venue.

Scores:

San Miguel 95 – Perez 34, Fajardo 17, Trollano 12, Tautuaa 10, Cruz 7, Lassiter 6, Ross 5, Brondial 2, Teng 2, Enciso 0.

Meralco 94 – Hodge 25, Banchero 16, Newsome 14, Quinto 9, Maliksi 8, Rios 6, Bates 6, Torres 5, Caram 3, Pascual 2, Almazan 0, Jose 0.

Quarters: 21-22, 49-48, 69-73, 95-94.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News