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Tag: George King

  • George King drops conference-high 46 as San Miguel halts Converge’s skid bid 

    George King drops conference-high 46 as San Miguel halts Converge’s skid bid 

    San Miguel Beer wasted little time putting its latest setback behind it.

     

    After seeing its momentum halted by TNT in its previous outing, the Beermen responded with one of their most complete performances of the conference, overpowering Converge, 126-114, on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to strengthen their position in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup.

     

    The victory lifted San Miguel to a 5-2 record in Group A while handing the FiberXers a fourth straight defeat after they opened the conference with three consecutive victories.

    The game was anything but comfortable early on.

     

    Converge stayed within striking distance throughout the first two quarters and even trailed by just a point, 65-64, at halftime as Jamaal Franklin, Justin Arana, and Calvin Abueva kept the FiberXers within striking distance.

     

    But everything changed after the break.

     

    San Miguel turned the third quarter into a statement, exploding for 37 points while limiting Converge to only 21. What had been a tightly contested battle suddenly became a double-digit lead as the Beermen stormed ahead, 102-85, entering the fourth.

     

    Converge attempted one last push behind Abueva’s aggressive scoring late in the game, but every rally was answered by George King, who repeatedly delivered baskets whenever the FiberXers threatened to make things interesting.

     

    The import finished with a conference-high 46 points along with 14 rebounds, six assists, and three steals in another dominant all-around performance.

     

    While King’s scoring grabbed the headlines, San Miguel’s balance proved equally important.

     

    The Beermen received 27 points from Don Trollano, while reigning MVP June Mar Fajardo quietly orchestrated the offense with a near triple-double of five points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists.

     

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    Head coach Leo Austria pointed to that collective effort as the biggest reason behind the bounce-back win.

     

    “The reason for this win, I think we’re able to balance the scoring. If you imagine, ang bench points namin 63, and that’s what I’m looking for sa team,” Austria said during the post-game press conference.

     

    “At the same time, we’re able to limit the fastbreak points of our opponent, which I think Converge is very good at the fastbreak. Another thing is the turnover, very limited, and we have a lot of assists.”

     

    The numbers backed up Austria’s assessment.

     

    San Miguel committed just nine turnovers while preventing Converge from getting easy transition opportunities, limiting the FiberXers to only 12 fastbreak points — a significant achievement against one of the league’s fastest-paced teams.

     

    Converge, meanwhile, continued searching for answers after another frustrating outing.

     

    Franklin and Abueva each finished with 26 points, while Justine Baltazar added 21 and Justin Arana chipped in 17, but the FiberXers had no response for San Miguel’s third-quarter avalanche.

     

    Instead of snapping their losing skid, Converge saw its early-season promise fade further as its losing streak reached four games, while the Beermen reminded the rest of the league why they remain among the top championship contenders despite recent setbacks.

     

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  • Leo Austria returns after heart procedure, guides San Miguel to victory

    Leo Austria returns after heart procedure, guides San Miguel to victory

    The San Miguel Beermen continued their impressive campaign in the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup, overpowering the Converge FiberXers, 126-114, on Wednesday, August 5, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

     

    Leading the charge was import George King, who delivered a dominant all-around performance to help the Beermen secure their fifth victory of the conference. King erupted for a game-high 46 points while grabbing 14 rebounds and dishing out six assists, bouncing back in emphatic fashion after a disappointing outing in San Miguel’s previous loss to the TNT Tropang 5G.

     

    King dictated the tempo from the opening quarter, attacking the basket relentlessly while knocking down timely perimeter shots. He also made his presence felt on the defensive end and in transition, allowing the Beermen to maintain control despite several comeback attempts by the FiberXers.

     

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    His stellar performance was complemented by San Miguel’s balanced offensive execution, as the Beermen capitalized on efficient ball movement and timely contributions from their local core to keep Converge at bay throughout the contest.

     

    The victory was made even more meaningful by the return of veteran head coach Leo Austria, who was back on the sidelines after missing the team’s previous six games while recovering from a heart procedure.

    Austria recently underwent an angioplasty, a minimally invasive procedure performed to restore blood flow by opening blocked coronary arteries. Although he was away from game-day coaching duties, the 68-year-old mentor remained actively involved in the team’s preparations by attending practices and providing guidance behind the scenes.

     

    Speaking after the game, Austria expressed gratitude for being given another opportunity to coach.

     

    “Thanks God I was able to have another opportunity to coach the team. I would like to thank the people who helped me, for saving my life,” Austria said during the postgame press conference.

     

    The veteran tactician admitted that returning to the bench was an emotional experience, particularly during the opening minutes of the game.

     

    “At the start, I was really nervous because I’m trying to feel the rhythm of the game. And I’m so happy because even though I’m not coaching in the past six games, I’m always in the practice, trying my best to be with the team, to inspire them. They wanted me to coach, I’m here. I’m thankful dahil baka I think baka 99 percent na okay ako,” he added.

     

    Austria’s return provided an emotional boost for the Beermen, who have maintained their strong form despite his temporary absence. The players responded with a disciplined performance on both ends of the floor, giving their longtime coach a memorable victory in his first game back.

    With the win, San Miguel improved to a 5-2 record, strengthening its hold on second place in the Group A standings and further establishing itself as one of the top contenders in the Governors’ Cup.

     

    The Beermen will now look to build on their momentum when they face the Macau Giant Pandas on Saturday, August 8, at the Ynares Center in Montalban. With King rediscovering his dominant form and Austria back calling the shots from the bench, San Miguel hopes to continue its winning run as the race for playoff positioning intensifies.

     

     

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  • George King enjoys San Miguel’s unbeaten start, admits team chemistry is building

    George King enjoys San Miguel’s unbeaten start, admits team chemistry is building

    The San Miguel Beermen continued their dominant start to the 2026 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup after overcoming the Converge FiberXers, 128-122, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Wednesday, July 22.

     

    Leading the charge for San Miguel was import George King, who delivered his best performance of the conference so far and provided the offensive spark the Beermen needed in a high-scoring affair.

     

    King erupted for 41 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block while shooting 16-of-32 from the field. He also connected on two four-pointers, showcasing his scoring ability from different areas of the court as San Miguel remained unbeaten in the early stages of the Governors’ Cup.

     

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    For King, the victory was another positive step as he continues to adjust to his new teammates, the PBA style of play, and San Miguel’s system. Despite producing a monster performance, the 32-year-old import emphasized that the team is still in the process of building chemistry.

     

    “It’s always good to be undefeated. We started off hot early, it builds some momentum. We are still learning each other, building chemistry. I think tonight we showed some moments of chemistry. We are really happy with that. It’s nice to be in this position,” King said after the game.

     

     

    Beyond his numbers, King’s energy and enthusiasm throughout the contest stood out. The former NBA player was often seen celebrating big plays, encouraging teammates, and enjoying the moment on the court—signs of his growing comfort within the Beermen system.

     

    King explained that maintaining that enjoyment and passion for the game has been important as he continues his professional career.

     

    “For me, it is easy to lose focus that this is a game. And I go back to my early stages of when I found this game where I did it because it was fun and I enjoyed it. I still do, but I believe that at this point, sometimes it can be easy to forget that. Recently, I have been reminded of that and I’m using it going forward.”

     

    He also highlighted how the team’s celebrations and shared moments on the court could help strengthen their bond moving forward.

     

    “Obviously, we are making plays and we are making our opponents call a timeout, and we are literally sitting there, and dancing, and just building our chemistry. I think these are the things that are going to pay off for us down the road if we continue to have success. I think it’s going to pay off for us going forward,” he added.

     

     

    San Miguel’s strong start comes after the franchise experienced import difficulties in previous conferences, particularly during the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup when the Beermen had to go through multiple import changes before eventually settling on Bennie Boatwright.

     

    However, assistant coach Peter Martin believes those concerns are now behind the team with King leading the way.

     

    Martin praised King’s versatility, leadership, and willingness to make plays for his teammates, noting that the import has made the adjustment process much easier for the coaching staff.

     

    “Oh, very safe. Very, very safe. Alam mo, kung tinitignan niyo yung. Minsan kukunin yung board siya mag-play para sa amin. Makes our job really much easier. And then he talks to the players. At the start, he won’t be so aggressive. The first game, puro pasa nga siya eh,” Martin said.

     

     

    The veteran coach added that King’s understanding of the game and ability to connect with his teammates will continue to improve as he becomes more familiar with the Beermen’s system.

     

    “Sabi ko nga sa kanya na it’s up to him. He knows how to play with these guys. He knows how to motivate. So, konti pa siguro. Konting familiarity pa magiging okay. Depensa na lang siguro mag-adjust kami ng konti pa,” Martin added.

     

     

    With King quickly establishing himself as a key piece of their lineup, San Miguel will look to maintain its perfect record when it faces the NLEX Road Warriors on Sunday, July 26, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

     

     

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  • George King makes PBA comeback with San Miguel Beermen for Season 50 Governors’ Cup 

    George King makes PBA comeback with San Miguel Beermen for Season 50 Governors’ Cup 

    George King’s journey after leaving the PBA took him across different basketball landscapes.

    From Lebanon and Egypt to Iraq, Taiwan, and most recently Germany with Gladiators Trier, the former Blackwater standout continued building his career overseas. Now, after nearly a year away from Philippine basketball, King is coming back with a new challenge waiting for him.


    The San Miguel Beermen have secured King as their import for the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup, hoping the explosive scorer can provide the offensive spark needed to revive their championship push.

     

    The move comes after a disappointing Commissioner’s Cup campaign for the Beermen. San Miguel went through three different imports—Marcus Lee, Justin Patton, and Bennie Boatwright, but struggled to find the consistency needed for a deep playoff run.

     

    The Beermen ended the eliminations as the sixth seed with a 7-5 record before falling to Rain or Shine in the quarterfinals, ending their pursuit of a grand slam season.

     

    Now, San Miguel is looking for a fresh start in the Governors’ Cup, a conference where the franchise has not lifted the championship trophy in 11 years.

     

    King enters the team with a reputation already established. During his first PBA stint with Blackwater, he quickly became one of the league’s most dangerous imports. King wasted no time making an impression.

     

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    King soon became Blackwater’s offensive engine, using his size, and scoring ability to create problems for opposing defenses. In the 2024 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, he averaged 34.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game in 10 outings.

     

    His ability to score from inside and outside made him one of the toughest players to contain, especially when the game slowed down and teams relied on their imports to create offense.

     

    The scoring outburst highlighted the type of offensive force San Miguel is adding to its roster—a player capable of changing the direction of a game almost single-handedly.

     

    With San Miguel’s deep local lineup surrounding him, the challenge will be different. The Beermen are not simply looking for a scorer; they are hoping King can become the final piece of a championship puzzle.

     

    For King, the return represents another opportunity to prove himself in the league where he first made his name.

     

    For San Miguel, it is a chance to bring in an import who already understands the intensity, style, and pressure of the PBA.

     

    As the Governors’ Cup approaches, all eyes will be on whether George King can turn his second PBA chapter into a championship story.

     

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