CJ Perez not dwelling on the past as San Miguel face defending champions Meralco in PBA playoffs

The San Miguel Beermen once again demonstrated why they are a powerhouse in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) by topping the elimination round standings of the ongoing Philippine Cup with an 8–3 win-loss record.

San Miguel is set to face a Meralco Bolts team eager to defend their Philippine Cup title. The matchup also serves as a rematch of last season’s finals. However, this time, the Beermen hold a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals, while Meralco only managed to secure the eighth and final playoff spot with a 6–5 record.

San Miguel’s star guard CJ Perez isn’t dwelling on last season’s heartbreak, stating that the loss is now behind them.

“I think it’s a different ball game now. The past is the past, but we also need to redeem ourselves. We lost in the Finals, but with our effort, we believe we can bounce back,” Perez said in a media interaction.

The Beermen have indeed bounced back from their disappointing run in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, where they missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade.

TWICE-TO-BEER 🍻

CJ Perez and the San Miguel Beermen secure a postseason bonus after dominating the NorthPort Batang Pier in the final gameday of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup eliminations.#PBASeason49 #PBAAngatAngLaban pic.twitter.com/gkMrdnVie7

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) June 15, 2025

Head coach Leo Austria admitted that finishing first in the standings wasn’t their primary objective—but securing a twice-to-beat edge was.

“It was not our goal. Our goal was to gain the twice-to-beat advantage, but finishing at the top is a good motivation for us. We were disappointed before, and we cannot afford to miss the playoffs again,” Austria said.

Despite Meralco’s eighth-place finish, they remain a dangerous opponent and are the defending champions for a reason—something Perez emphasized his team must be mindful of.

“We need to focus on Meralco. We have to win the first game, then we’ll see what happens. They have a good system, so we need to match their energy, focus on defense, and let the offense follow,” he added.

Notably, San Miguel defeated Meralco 110–98 in their elimination round meeting and will aim to repeat that performance when the two teams clash on Friday, June 20, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

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