UNSTOPPABLE.

With CJ Perez and Chris Ross doing the most damage, San Miguel Beer came away with a 98-91 victory over Magnolia Chicken Timplados in their highly-anticipated “Manila Clasico” rematch in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Perez scattered 25 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field, and five assists in almost 34 minutes of action, while Ross added 15 points for San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent.

The rest of the Beermen also stepped up when needed to get the job done.

Marcio Lassiter tallied 12 points on 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, Mo Tautuaa contributed 10 points and seven boards and seven-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo chipped in with nine points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

Not to be outdone, Rodney Brondial and Jericho Cruz also added nine points each.

Paul Lee and Aris Dionisio led the scoring for the Hotshots of coach Chito Victolero.

Lee finished with 23 points, on 6-of-14 shooting from the floor, seven rebunds and six assists in almost 34 minutes in a losing effort.

Former St.Clare College of Caloocan standout Dionisio added a double-double performance with 22 points and 10 rebounds.

Ian Sangalang had 17 points and five rebounds for the Hotshots, who dropped to 5-3 win-loss record.

The Beermen led by as much as 20 poinrs midway through the second frame, but the Hotshots cut the deficit to three points, 89-92 with 1:25 left in the final period.

Ross hit the dagger three to increase San Miguel’s lead to six points 95-89 with 1:04 remaining.

And afterbMark Barroca missed his two-point jumper, Ross found Perez in the three-point territory to give the Beermen a 98-89 advantage with only 28 seconds left on the clock.

The scores:

San Miguel (98) — Perez 25, Ross 15, Lassiter 12, Tautuaa 10, Fajardo 9, Brondial 9, Cruz 9, Romeo 6, Trollano 3, Manuel 0.
Magnolia (91) — Lee 23, Dionisio 22, Sangalang 17, Mendoza 8, Barroca 9, Laput 6, Tratter 5,Dela Rosa 1, Escoto 0, Balanza 0, Eriobu 0, Abueva 0.
Quarterscores: 24-11, 51-40, 70-64, 98-91.