San Miguel def Meralco, 121-97 [SF Game 1 | Season 47 PH Cup | August 3, 2022]

Non-participant in PBA finals just in the last four conferences, San Miguel is aching for return, and it has been evident in the Beermen’s showing from their first game in Season 47 Philippine Cup.

And it’s apparent in the kickoff of their Final Four showdown with the Meralco Bolts.

CJ Perez and his teammates jumpstarted their bid, pounding and pummeling the Bolts from the get-go en route to a 121-97 demolition job and a good head start in the race-to-four-games series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.

It’s a complete annihilation of the team that beat them in their last two playoff entanglements, and spoke well of the Beermen’s determination for a finals return and a shot at the crown that was theirs from 2014 to 2019.

Coach Leo Austria said they covered all the bases as they also braced for any eventuality against the team he expected to be very tough coming from their conquest of Barangay Ginebra.

“Meralco iyan, at dalawang beses kaming ipinahiya niyan sa bubble,” said Austria.

“Pero tinalo namin sila sa energy. I was surprised with the energy shown by our players. But it’s just one game of a long series,” he added.