The San Miguel Beermen displayed their dominance with a commanding 110-98 victory over the Meralco Bolts in the PBA Golden Anniversary special at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday night, April 9. CJ Perez and June Mar Fajardo played pivotal roles, powering the Beermen to their second straight win, while handing the Bolts their first loss after a strong 2-0 start to the conference.

CJ Perez and June Mar Fajardo Lead the Beermen

Perez, the game’s top scorer, delivered an outstanding performance with 29 points, including four free throws and three three-pointers. Fajardo added a near double-double with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. Together, they formed an unstoppable duo that guided the Beermen to a decisive win.

“I just focused on playing hard and contributing in any way I can to help the team,” Perez said after the game. His incredible scoring performance was key to San Miguel’s success as they maintained their composure throughout the game.

Solid Contributions from Other Beermen

Aside from Perez and Fajardo, Jeron Teng also stepped up with 11 points, while Rodney Brondial, Marcio Lassiter, and Juami Tiongson contributed solid performances. These efforts followed up on their impressive 98-89 victory over the NLEX Road Warriors on Saturday.

Despite a strong third-quarter surge from Meralco, led by Chris Newsome, who had 27 points, the Beermen held their ground. After Meralco trimmed the gap to just three points at 74-77, San Miguel responded quickly with Fajardo dunking home a basket, followed by Perez and Tiongson hitting back-to-back three-pointers to extend the lead to 92-81.

Historic Night for the PBA

The game was part of a historic PBA Golden Anniversary celebration, where both teams wore vintage jerseys from the past. San Miguel sported 1980s white tops and red shorts, while Meralco donned their 1970s MICAA orange jerseys. The teams also held a photo-shoot at center court before the opening tip, with pioneer player Jimmy Noblezada and PBA All-Star MVP Boy Cabahug in attendance.

PBA Golden Anniversary Gala

The anniversary celebration will continue with another major event — a gala night at Solaire North on Friday. The gala will feature the gathering of the league’s 50 greatest players, making it a memorable night for basketball fans across the country.