San Miguel Beer pulled off a gritty 120-111 victory over Rain or Shine in Cagayan de Oro, fending off a furious fourth-quarter rally to strengthen their position in the Top Four of the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations.

In front of an energetic Saturday (June 7) crowd at the Cagayan de Oro Convention Center, the Beermen seemed poised for a rout with a lead that ballooned to 25 points. But Rain or Shine mounted a stunning comeback, trimming the deficit to just one point at 103-102 after an Adrian Nocum layup with 4:46 left.

Perez and Trollano Deliver in the Clutch

With the game on the line, San Miguel turned to CJ Perez and Don Trollano, who delivered crucial baskets to halt the Elasto Painters’ momentum. Perez led all scorers with 33 points, adding eight rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. Trollano provided solid support with 24 points, four boards, and three steals.

June Mar Fajardo chipped in 20 points and nine rebounds, narrowly missing a double-double. Marcio Lassiter added 16 markers, including two from beyond the arc.

Playoff Race Heats Up

The win improved San Miguel’s record to 7-2, placing them firmly at second behind the NLEX Road Warriors (8-2). The Beermen remain in contention for the top seed and can clinch it with wins in their final two games against Converge and NorthPort.

On the other side, Rain or Shine dropped to 6-4, tying them with Converge for sixth. The Elasto Painters’ hopes for a Top Four finish now hinge on a win over Barangay Ginebra on June 15.

Andrei Caracut, Adrian Nocum, and Jhonard Clarito kept ROS in the fight, scoring 24, 22, and 17 points, respectively. But in the end, San Miguel’s composure and star power proved too much.