Working on 4-point shots in practice pays off for Beermen

MANILA, Philippines – No surprises there. 

The 4-point dagger unleashed by CJ Perez to secure San Miguel’s victory over Phoenix on Wednesday is “nothing new”, according to Beermen coach Jorge Gallent, who underscored that hours of training have been put into that shot. 

The Beermen escaped the Fuel Masters, 111-107, for a triumphant debut in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup. 

It was closer than expected, considering that the Fuel Masters trailed by 13 points with a minute to go in the third quarter.

Phoenix tied the game up at 99 in the fourth quarter and grabbed a slim 106-105 lead with 1:17 remaining after three free throws by Jason Perkins. 

On the other end, though, Perez launched a huge step-back 4-pointer over the outstretched arms of Javee Mocon as San Miguel erected a 110-105 lead with 56.6 seconds remaining. 

While Phoenix inched closer and actually had a chance to take the lead with a 4-pointer by Ricci Rivero that missed, Perez’s shot was enough to keep the Fuel Masters at bay for good. 

Gallent emphasized just how important the 4-point bomb was. 

“It definitely lifted us. It gave us a stronger spirit going down on defense because we weren’t pressured anymore, because if CJ missed that, we would be down by one,” Gallent said in a mix of English and Filipino.

“So, the pressure will be there, trying to stop them. CJ hit that big shot at the right time,” he added. 

He stressed that Perez and even big man June Mar Fajardo have been working on that shot in practice. 

“I think [Perez] took that shot because [the shot clock] is already in dying seconds, I think it was the last four or five seconds so he had the shot,” the coach said. 

“As I said, June Mar and CJ, they also [work on] that in practice. It’s nothing new to them.” 

Perez finished with 21 points and four rebounds. He was a huge boost for San Miguel squad, which also had monster performances from Fajardo (37 points and 24 rebounds) and Jordan Adams (24 points and nine rebounds). 

The Beermen will try to keep on rolling as they face the Blackwater Bossing on Sunday, August 25, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.