In their first game following the EASL Champions Week, San Miguel trounced NLEX 120-106 on Wednesday at the Philsports Arena, denying the Road Warriors a twice-to-beat edge in the PBA Governors’ Cup playoffs.

In their first game since June Mar Fajardo sustained an MCL injury during their poor EASL season, the Beermen beat the opposition for the eighth time in ten games behind the performance of Cameron Clark, who finished with 45 points and 17 rebounds.

San Miguel had a lead of up to 21 points, but it took crucial baskets from Clark and CJ Perez in the closing minutes to defeat NLEX.

Jorge Gallent, the coach of San Miguel, remarked that it only requires the players to step up. They were aware June Mar was hurt. They simply took action, which is fantastic. Without the big boy, they figured out how to play. It is great, and he hope they keep playing hard and putting up a lot of effort.

With 4:16 remaining, Clark made a jump shot for two of his 10 points in the final canto, capping a 9-4 surge that effectively eliminated his previous team from last season’s Governors’ Cup.

Clark scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to assist Perez help Clark win the game with 23 points and seven rebounds. San Miguel was able to jump out to a strong lead early on thanks to Jericho Cruz’s 16 points and Allyn Bulanadi’s 14 points, 10 of which came in the fourth.

For NLEX, Wayne Selden Jr. scored 32 points in the loss, and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser added 29 points and 15 rebounds.

With a 7-4 record, NLEX went into a tie for fourth with Meralco and Magnolia, but after the tiebreak procedure was used, it fell to sixth in the seedings.

Meralco received the No. 4 seed and the associated twice-to-beat advantage due to having a higher quotient after defeating both Magnolia and NLEX in the elimination rounds.

The Scores

San Miguel 120 – Clark 45, Perez 23, Cruz 16, Bulanadi 14, Enciso 8, Lassiter 8, Ross 0, Romeo 0, Brondial 0, Manuel 4, Tautuaa 2.

NLEX 106 – Selden Jr. 32, Ganuelas-Rosser 29, Trollano 14, Anthony 8, Nieto 2, Miranda 5, Rosales 5, Alas 5.

Quarter Scores: 28-19; 61-47; 88-75; 120-106