The San Miguel Beermen celebrating their 29th PBA title. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News. 

MANILA (UPDATED) — The San Miguel Beermen are PBA Champions once again.

Jorge Gallent has led his squad to victory after they triumphed over the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, 104-102, in Game 6 of the 2023-24 Commissioner’s Cup Finals, Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

“Everybody worked hard for this, the coaches to the staff to the PTs, and especially the players,” said Gallent, who has now won his first title as a head coach.

“Even when we were down 9, 10, they didn't panic. They played in the flow and stepped up their defense, and good things happen when you play defense,” he added.

CJ Perez, who was later named Finals MVP, led SMB with 28 points, while June Mar Fajardo and Bennie Boatwright each scored 19.

After San Miguel erased an eight-point deficit to only trail by five at halftime, the Hotshots waxed hot to start the second half and led by as much as 13, 77-64, following a basket by Paul Lee with still 3:10 left in the same frame.

SMB made a late run to end the third and extended it early in the fourth, and this got them to as close as six, 90-84, after a follow-up by Boatwright with still 7:01 remaining in the game.

San Miguel continued to claw in and was able to cut the lead to three, 95-92, following a fastbreak by Perez at the 2:50 mark of the fourth. But Lee had other plans and immediately answered back with his own triple.

The Beermen, however, retaliated in a huge manner and were able to score a five-to-nothing spurt off a fastbreak by Perez and a trey by Jericho Cruz with still 1:43 left.

Chris Ross then hit a trey to finally overtake Magnolia, and Perez followed it with another three-pointer to distance themselves further, 103-99, with 48.7 ticks left in the game.

Aris Dionisio’s own triple helped Magnolia make a last push to cut the lead to one, 103-102, with still 20 seconds left, but SMB was able to hold on and finally complete the comeback.

Lee had his best game in the series with 25 markers as well as three rebounds and three assists, while Tyler Bey and Ian Sangalang had 18 and 16, respectively. But the Hotshots’ six-year title drought still continues, with their last one coming from the 2018 Governors’ Cup.

Meanwhile, following this win, the Beermen furthered their place at the very top of the 48-year-old league, with SMB tallying their 29th PBA title.

The scores:

San Miguel — 104 – Perez 28, Fajardo 19, Boatwright 19, Cruz 12, Trollano 10, Ross 9, Tautuaa 4, Enciso 2, Teng 1, Lassiter 0, Brondial 0.

Magnolia — 102 – Lee 25, Bey 18, Sangalang 16, Jalalon 12, Barroca 11, Dela Rosa 9, Dionisio 7, Abueva 4, Tratter 0, Escoto 0.

Quarters: 22-26; 46-51; 73-82; 104-102.