San Miguel Beer opened its PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup campaign with a statement, overpowering NLEX, 98-89, Saturday, April 5, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Determined to bounce back from a disappointing run in the Commissioner’s Cup, the Beermen came out firing with a 12-0 start and never looked back. It was a dominant wire-to-wire performance that signaled their serious intent to reclaim their lost crown.

CJ Perez spearheaded the charge with 28 points, setting the tone with 15 in the first half alone. He was ably backed by Juami Tiongson, who added 17 points, including three triples, and June Mar Fajardo, who posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Don Trollano also chipped in with 12 points, helping San Miguel maintain control throughout the contest.

“We just wanted to come out strong and stick to our system,” said Perez, who picked up where he left off as one of the league’s most lethal scorers. “This is a new conference and we’re focused on redemption.”

San Miguel took a 55-43 lead at halftime and continued to apply pressure in the second half. Tiongson and Perez combined for 36 points through the first three quarters, ensuring the Beermen held a comfortable 75-65 cushion heading into the fourth.

NLEX tried to mount a fightback behind Mike Miranda and Robert Bolick, who scored 15 and 14 points, respectively. However, it wasn’t enough to dig out of the early hole.

Bolick, usually a primary scorer, took a backseat early in the game and only attempted one shot in the first half. His late push couldn’t shift the momentum as San Miguel’s early explosion proved too much to overcome.

The Beermen’s defense and rebounding—highlighted by Fajardo’s effort on the boards—further solidified their grip on the game.

With the win, San Miguel began its redemption tour in style, determined to make up for its quarterfinal exit in the Commissioner’s Cup and a runner-up finish in the previous Philippine Cup.