WATCH: San Miguel vs Blackwater Game Highlights [QF | Season 47 PH Cup | July 27, 2022]

San Miguel and Blackwater are back in familiar spots – the Beermen in the semis and the Bossing in an extended slump.

The Beermen simply asserted themselves as the heavily favored top seeds against a hapless injury-hit side, pulling off an emphatic 123-93 win for a quick entry to the PBA Philippine Cup Final Four at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.

June Mar Fajardo and his teammates buckled down to work early and tore Blackwater to shreds right in the opening minutes on the way to claiming a semis berth against the winner of the Meralco-Ginebra quarters matchup.

The Bolts enjoy the 1-0 head start in the best-of-three series which they can wrap up in Game Two Friday over at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

It would be a longer wait for the Beermen if the Kings strike back and force a Game Three decider on Sunday.

“At the start of the tourney, our target was the Top Two. Next, in the quarters, we don’t want a second game because we want time to prepare for the semis,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria on the goals that they have achieved thus far in the all-Filipino tourney.

Being away for nearly two weeks observing the league’s health protocols, Austria lauded the players and the members of his coaching staff for a job well done.