SAN Miguel played just hard enough to roll back NLEX, 100-92, and assume the early lead in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

CJ Perez topscored with 19 points on 8-of-17 shooting and Marcio Lassiter added 18 points, including 4-of-8 shooting from the three-point area to power the Beermen to their second straight win.

Perez also had six rebounds and five assists for the Beermen, who posted their first 2-0 start since the 2019 Governors’ Cup.

Lassiter’s four triples for the day also enabled him to join the league’s 1,000 three-points made club.

Vic Manuel added 14 points, Chris Ross contributed 13 points and June Mar Fajardo had nine points and a game-high 14 rebounds for San Miguel, which debuted with a 108-100 victory over Phoenix Super LPG last Wednesday.

“We know we have to step up on our defense. We know what to do, we know what they are doing so it was a matter of application,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.

Don Trollano led the way for NLEX with 21 points, five rebounds and two assists, followed by Calvin Oftana with 16 points, four rebounds and four assists.

But Justin Chua, one of the key players in NLEX’s 105-102 win over Terrafirma, struggled with 12 points on a dismal 5-of-17 shooting for the Road Warriors of coach Yeng Guiao.

The Beermen outscored the Road Warriors, 28-20, in the third quarter after trailing 50-53 at halftime.

In the second game, new member Converge outlasted Magnia, 89-82, for its very first win in the pro league.

Jeron Teng finished with 19 points and RK Ilagan and Maverick Ahanmisi added 14 points apiece as Converge rallied from 20 points down and outscored Magnolia, 7-0, in extra time to escape with the win.

Ian Sangalang led Magnolia with 22 markers.

The Hotshots, who missed the services of Paul Lee due to back spasms and Mark Barroca due to calf issues during the game, dropped to0-2.

The scores:

First game

San Miguel (100) — Perez 19, Lassiter 18, Manuel 14, Ross 13, Cruz 10, Fajardo 9, Tautuaa 7, Brondial 6, Enciso 3, Pessumal 1, Herndon 0.
NLEX (92) – Trollano 21, Oftana 16, Chua 12, Alas 10, Quinahan 10, Semerad 6, Rosales 5, Varilla 5, Fonacier 3, Soyud 2, Ighalo 2, Miranda 0.
Quarterscores: 25-33, 50-53, 78-73, 100-92.

Second game

Converge (89) – Teng 19, Ilagan 14, Ahanmisi 14, Adamos 10, Arana 9, DiGregorio 7, Tolomia 6, Murrell 4, Bulanadi 3, Racal 3, Browne 0, Hill 0, Ambohot 0, Stockton 0, Lojera 0.
Magnolia (82) – Sangalang 22, Jalalon 13, Abueva 13, Ahanmisi 12, Dela Rosa 10, Barroca 4, Wong 4, Zaldivar 4, Reavis 0, Corpuz 0.
Quarterscores: 11-16, 35-47, 58-65, 82-82, 89-82