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Tag: PBA Philippine Cup

  • PBA issues ₱20,000 fine after Converge ‘cooking’ gesture in Ginebra quartefinals loss

    PBA issues ₱20,000 fine after Converge ‘cooking’ gesture in Ginebra quartefinals loss

    What should have been remembered purely for a dramatic finish instead carried added consequences for Converge, as the PBA Commissioner’s Office handed down fines following a heated quarterfinal exit at the hands of Barangay Ginebra.

     

    Assistant coach Humperdink Dimatulac and players Justine Baltazar and Mark Denver Omega were each fined ₱20,000 for making a “cooking” gesture during their do-or-die knockout game against the Gin Kings, an act the league deemed inappropriate and unsportsmanlike.

     

    The incident unfolded at the height of tension, with Dimatulac and Baltazar visibly performing the gesture in open view of fans, expressing frustration over officiating calls as the FiberXers struggled to protect their twice-to-beat edge. 

     

    Omega, meanwhile, was caught doing the same motion from the bench, despite not having logged a single game for Converge since being acquired via trade from Rain or Shine following the NCAA season.

     

    All three were summoned by PBA commissioner Willie Marcial on Monday, where they acknowledged their actions and issued apologies.

     

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    “Lahat naman sila nag-sorry, nadala sila sa emosyon. Sabi ko, wag na uulitin lalo na ‘yung assistant coach na wag na (provoke) ‘yung mga fans,” Marcial said.

     

    The league’s response underscored its continued emphasis on professionalism, especially during high-pressure games where emotions often run high and gestures can quickly inflame both crowds and online discourse.

     

    The fines came on the heels of a heartbreaking end to Converge’s campaign. Despite holding a twice-to-beat advantage, the FiberXers were eliminated after Stephen Holt drilled an overtime buzzer-beater to lift Ginebra to a 99–98 victory.

     

    Instead of advancing to the semifinals, Converge was left reflecting not only on a missed opportunity but also on a costly lapse in composure—one that turned a single gesture into a league reminder that emotions, no matter how intense, must still stay within bounds.

     

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  • PBA Semifinals: Scottie Thompson’s 35-point triple-double lifts Ginebra, Poy Erram powers TNT closer to Finals

    PBA Semifinals: Scottie Thompson’s 35-point triple-double lifts Ginebra, Poy Erram powers TNT closer to Finals

    Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena felt less like a routine semifinal slate and more like a referendum on belief, balance, and timing.

     

    On one end of the floor, Scottie Thompson authored a performance that instantly etched itself into PBA lore. On the other hand, a long-overdue breakout from Poy Erram reshaped another series entirely. By night’s end, both Barangay Ginebra and TNT had rewritten the momentum of their respective matchups in emphatic fashion.

     

    Ginebra’s 105-91 comeback win over San Miguel was not merely about survival—it was about perspective. Down by as many as 14 early, the Kings leaned on their emotional compass, and Thompson responded with the most complete game of his career.

     

    The former MVP poured in a career-high 35 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and dished out 11 assists, steering Ginebra back from the brink and knotting the series at 2-2. 

     

    The triple-double placed him in rare air, a feat last achieved by Ronnie Magsanoc during the 1990 All-Filipino Conference, per league statistics.More than the numbers, it was the timing that defined Thompson’s night. 

     

    His nine points during a decisive 12-3 run flipped a fragile one-point San Miguel edge into a commanding Ginebra cushion midway through the fourth. From there, the Kings never looked back.

     

    Yet this was not a one-man rescue. Japeth Aguilar’s steady 14 points and six rebounds stabilized the interior, while Norbert Torres’ trio of triples—including the shot that finally pushed Ginebra ahead for good—punctured San Miguel’s resistance. 

     

    Jayson David and RJ Abarrientos added pace and polish, and the Kings’ 34 assists reflected a team rediscovering its identity at precisely the right moment.

     

    For San Miguel, CJ Perez’s 22 points and Chris Ross’ 20 kept them competitive, but the Beermen struggled to generate consistent offense beyond their guards. June Mar Fajardo, limited by both defensive pressure and sore shoulders, endured another rare single-digit scoring night, though his 20 rebounds underscored his continued influence in other areas.

     

    With the series reset, Game 5 now looms as a referendum on which version of each team is real.

     

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    If Thompson’s game was about legacy, Poy Erram’s was about timing.

     

    Entering Game 4 averaging just two points for the conference, Erram erupted for 27 points on near-perfect efficiency as TNT dismantled Meralco, 102-83, to seize a commanding 3-1 series lead. He scored 21 in the first half alone, immediately setting the tone for a bounce-back performance after TNT’s previous stumble.

     

    Even with Calvin Oftana and Jordan Heading struggling to find rhythm, the Tropang 5G thrived on collective execution. Their role players filled the gaps, their defense suffocated Meralco’s options, and their early control never truly wavered.

     

    The win was made more impressive—and complicated—by injuries on both sides. TNT lost Roger Pogoy early to a hamstring injury, while Rey Nambatac remained limited. Meralco, meanwhile, had to cope without Chris Newsome, sidelined by an MCL sprain, a void that proved too large to overcome despite Chris Banchero’s 19-point effort.

     

    By the end of the night, two narratives were clear: Ginebra had rediscovered its heartbeat through Thompson’s brilliance, and TNT had found an unexpected pillar in Erram at the most crucial moment.

     

    In a semifinal round increasingly shaped by depth, durability, and decisive bursts, Sunday served as a reminder that championships are often swung not by who is expected to deliver—but by who does when it matters most. 

     

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  • PBA Semis: TNT tightens grip, SMB strikes back to even series

    PBA Semis: TNT tightens grip, SMB strikes back to even series

    The PBA Philippine Cup semifinals began to show clearer contours on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with TNT asserting control in one series while San Miguel Beer answered back in the other.

     

    This time, there was no need for late drama from the Tropang 5G. After surviving a 21-point hole in Game 1, TNT flipped the script in Game 2 and delivered a commanding 109–92 win over Meralco to seize a 2–0 edge in their best-of-seven showdown. 

     

    From the opening minutes, the Tropa dictated pace, found rhythm on both ends, and steadily widened the gap—pulling away decisively in the third quarter to move within two wins of the Finals.

     

    Calvin Oftana once again set the tone, pouring in 26 points and seven rebounds as TNT’s steady engine. He was far from alone. Jordan Heading added 24, highlighted by a four-point bomb, while the supporting cast overwhelmed the Bolts with balance and depth. 

     

    Kelly Williams and Roger Pogoy chipped in 12 apiece—Pogoy draining all his points from long range—while Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser contributed 11 points and six boards.

     

     In all, 12 different Tropang 5G players made their way into the scoring column, a testament to TNT’s collective rhythm after a grinding series opener.

     

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    If TNT took control in one bracket, San Miguel Beer made sure its own series didn’t slip away. The Beermen regrouped from their opening loss and leaned on timely contributions across the board to outlast Barangay Ginebra, 93–84, evening their semifinal duel at one game apiece.

     

    After struggling to find help in Game 1, San Miguel’s support crew came alive when it mattered most. Don Trollano and Jericho Cruz sparked a pivotal third-quarter push, before Jeron Teng seized the spotlight in the final frame. 

     

    Teng delivered a massive lift off the bench, finishing with 13 points—12 of them coming in the fourth quarter—along with five rebounds and three assists.

     

    The former La Salle standout was central to a decisive 13–5 run that turned a one-point edge into a commanding 80–71 cushion midway through the fourth, allowing the Beermen to wrest control and never look back. Trollano and Cruz finished with 12 and 11 points, respectively, easing the burden on San Miguel’s stars.

     

    June Mar Fajardo continued his dominant stretch regardless, posting 21 points and 23 rebounds for his third straight 20-20 outing, while CJ Perez added 11 points and five boards. This time, though, the Beermen’s victory hinged on balance rather than survival.

     

    On the other side, Ginebra leaned heavily on Stephen Holt and RJ Abarrientos, who scored 18 points each, with Norbert Torres adding 10. The rest of the Kings’ offense struggled to find consistency, including Ralph Cu, who was limited to just three points after his Game 1 breakout.

     

    With TNT holding a commanding lead and San Miguel restoring parity, the semifinals now head into a crucial stretch. Game 3 of both best-of-seven series is set for Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Big Dome, where momentum—and perhaps separation—will again be up for grabs.

     

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  • PBA pause reshapes Season 50 as eliminated teams face an unusual midyear hiatus

    PBA pause reshapes Season 50 as eliminated teams face an unusual midyear hiatus

    For nearly half the PBA, the end of the Philippine Cup has not brought the usual quick reset into the next conference. Instead, it has opened the door to what feels like an offseason unfolding right in the middle of the calendar year.

     

    Eight teams that fell short of the semifinals are now staring at a break of more than two months before competitive play resumes with the Commissioner’s Cup on March 11. In a league long accustomed to tight turnarounds between conferences, the pause is striking—an interruption shaped less by league preference and more by the demands of the national team and a milestone season schedule.

     

    Clubs that managed to reach the quarterfinals—Converge, Rain or Shine, Magnolia, and NLEX—at least stretched their Philippine Cup runs into the final days of 2025. Rain or Shine was the last to bow out, absorbing a 98–89 defeat to Meralco in a knockout game for the final semifinal berth. For others, the wait began much earlier.

     

    The extended downtime is largely the product of two calendar anchors: the second window of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers and the PBA’s 50th Season All-Star weekend. 

     

    With the opening conference projected to wrap up by early February—assuming both the semifinals and finals go the distance—attention immediately shifts to Gilas Pilipinas.

     

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    National team head coach Tim Cone has requested a runway of at least 10 days to two weeks for full-team training before Gilas resumes its World Cup qualifying campaign on Feb. 26 and March 1. The Filipinos, currently tied with Australia atop Group A at 2–0, will face New Zealand first before a highly anticipated rematch with the Boomers. Both games are set at the Mall of Asia Arena, underscoring how central the national team has become to the league’s scheduling priorities.

     

    Once that window closes, the PBA caravan heads north. Just five days after the qualifiers, the entire league will converge in Candon, Ilocos Sur, for the All-Star weekend scheduled from March 6 to 8. The showcase returns after a one-year absence, having been called off last season due to what the league cited as a “security concern” surrounding its original Davao staging.

     

    For teams that didn’t even reach the quarterfinals—NorthPort, Phoenix, Blackwater, and Terrafirma—the pause is even more pronounced. Phoenix, in particular, has endured the longest layoff, last suiting up on Dec. 14 in a 127–119 loss to NorthPort. By the time the Commissioner’s Cup tips off, the Fuel Masters will have gone nearly three months without a game.

     

    Historically, the PBA has prided itself on momentum, often rolling into the next conference just a week after the previous one ends. Season 50, however, is rewriting that rhythm. With FIBA World Cup qualifiers stretching deep into the year and the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan—where Gilas Pilipinas enters as defending champion—looming in September, the golden season is on track to become the longest in league history.

     

    Launched on Oct. 5, Season 50 is expected to conclude only in December, a full year-long journey that blurs the traditional lines between conferences, breaks, and international duty. Even the next major milestone—the Season 51 Draft—has been pushed far down the road, tentatively set for Jan. 3 or Jan. 10, 2027.

     

    For now, the Philippine Cup’s early exits are left to wait, train, and recalibrate, navigating a rare lull that reflects how much the modern PBA season now revolves around a bigger picture beyond the league itself.

     

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  • Momentum, Adjustments, and Urgency: Game 2 stakes rise in both PBA Philippine Cup semifinals

    Momentum, Adjustments, and Urgency: Game 2 stakes rise in both PBA Philippine Cup semifinals

    Game 1 offered a warning shot rather than a verdict, and as the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals head into Game 2, both series have shifted from feeling-out affairs to tests of urgency, composure, and adjustment.

     

    For TNT and Meralco, the opener was a study in how slim the margins can be—even on an off night. The Tropang 5G escaped with a 100–95 win despite their main shooters misfiring badly from deep. 

     

    TNT’s perimeter gunners—Calvin Oftana, RR Pogoy, Jordan Heading, and Rey Nambatac—combined for just 4-of-26 from three, numbers that normally spell defeat. Instead, TNT survived by changing the math of the game, relentlessly attacking the rim and piling up 47 free-throw attempts compared to Meralco’s 12.

     

    That imbalance flipped a game Meralco once controlled. The Bolts raced to a 21-point lead behind energy, execution, and confident shooting, but couldn’t sustain it deep into the second half. Head coach Luigi Trillo didn’t sugarcoat the collapse.

     

    “That thing (tight ending) should not happen when you go up by 20. That should be a step on the throats and done game. And we didn’t do that. We allowed them to come back,” said Trillo.

    For Meralco, Game 2 at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum is less about tactical tweaks and more about sustaining edge and discipline.

     

    “Maybe, we have to be a heavy-duty team. We need to go down with humility and see that to beat this team, we have to not let go of the gas pedal,” Trillo added.

     

    TNT, meanwhile, knows the Game 1 result cuts both ways. Yes, they’re up 1–0—but they also won without their offensive engines clicking. Chot Reyes made it clear that kind of start is not something they want to repeat.

     

    “We saw that with the kind of energy, execution, even their three-point shooting in the first half. They were really primed for it. We got a first-hand taste of that,” said Reyes. “So hopefully in Game 2, we are more ready to play from the start because I don’t think we can bring this kind of game to Game 2 and expect to come up with the same result.”

     

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    Across the bracket, San Miguel Beer enters Game 2 against Barangay Ginebra with a similar sense of urgency after absorbing a 99–90 loss in the opener. Rather than dwell on the defeat, coach Leo Austria framed it as a necessary jolt.

     

    “Game 2, siguradong it would be an exciting game for us,” said Austria. “Parang na-wake up call na kami and they (his Beermen) know na mahirap ma-zero-two.”

     

    Ginebra’s win was built on balance and timely contributions. RJ Abarrientos, Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, Norbert Torres, and surprise spark Ralph Cu all made life difficult for San Miguel, even as June Mar Fajardo delivered a dominant 27-point, 23-rebound performance in just 30 minutes.

     

    The concern for San Miguel lies beyond its star center. The Beermen’s bench—league-best at 57.5 points per game entering the semis—was held to just 29, compounded by a costly 15-of-31 outing from the free-throw line. Injuries also played a role, with Don Trollano battling a sore back, Jericho Cruz dealing with a hamstring issue, and Mo Tautuaa limited by a shoulder injury.

     

    “Dapat talaga hindi ko gagamitin si Mo dahil one week siyang hindi nakapag-practice,” Austria explained. “Kinausap ko na rin siya at sinabi kong kahit depensa, rebounds tumulong siya dahil gusto namin sanang ma-preserve si June Mar.”

     

    Ginebra coach Tim Cone isn’t expecting San Miguel to stay quiet for long, especially Trollano, who entered the series averaging over 16 points per game.

     

    “Game two is going to be a completely different game,” said Cone. “He’s probably gonna come out and go 10-for-15 in the next game… June Mar had a great game and Don had an off-game tonight.”

     

    Austria echoed that belief, pointing to his team’s mindset heading into Game 2.

     

    “Kinausap ko na sila at nakikita ko naming walang nakatungo, puro upbeat. Mga excited na makabawi dahil alam nilang magiging mas mahirap sa amin pag natalo ulit.”

     

    With both semifinals now clearly defined by what went wrong—and what could go right—Game 2 looms as a pivotal swing night. For Meralco and San Miguel, it’s about proving Game 1 was an aberration. For TNT and Ginebra, it’s about showing they can respond when the counterpunch inevitably comes.

     

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  • PBA to review ‘cooking’ gesture as emotions spill over in Converge–Ginebra quarterfinal

    PBA to review ‘cooking’ gesture as emotions spill over in Converge–Ginebra quarterfinal

    What was supposed to be a showcase of playoff intensity has now crossed into a matter of league discipline.

     

    The PBA Commissioner’s Office is set to call in Converge big man Justin Baltazar and assistant coach Humperdink Dimatulac following a controversial “cooking” gesture made during the FiberXers’ heated Philippine Cup quarterfinal clash against Barangay Ginebra on December 28.

     

    PBA commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed that both Baltazar and Dimatulac will be summoned within the week, placing the spotlight on player and bench conduct amid rising tensions in high-stakes games. 

     

    The gesture, made in clear view of the crowd, was widely interpreted as an expression of frustration toward the officiating during the knockout contest.

     

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    The incident did not remain confined inside the arena. Short video clips capturing the gesture quickly circulated on social media, amplifying public scrutiny and prompting the league to step in and assess whether the act crossed the boundaries of acceptable behavior.

     

    The timing made the moment even more charged. Converge entered the quarterfinals holding the fourth seed and a twice-to-beat advantage, but saw its Philippine Cup run come to a dramatic end after falling to Ginebra in overtime, 99–98. 

     

    The loss was sealed by a Stephen Holt three-point buzzer-beater, a finish that turned frustration into heartbreak for the FiberXers.

     

    While emotions often run high in playoff basketball, the league’s response underscores its ongoing effort to maintain professionalism and respect—both toward officials and the game itself—especially as social media magnifies every on-court and sideline reaction.

     

    Any potential sanctions against Baltazar and Dimatulac will be determined after their meeting with the Commissioner’s Office. 

     

    For now, the episode serves as a reminder that in the PBA, how a team handles adversity can be judged just as closely as how it performs in crunch time.

     

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  • Luigi Trillo urges balanced whistle as Meralco eyes response after Game 1 collapse vs TNT

    Luigi Trillo urges balanced whistle as Meralco eyes response after Game 1 collapse vs TNT

    For Meralco head coach Luigi Trillo, Game 1 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals offered two hard truths—one internal, the other systemic.

     

    The Bolts’ stunning 100-95 loss to TNT on Sunday was first and foremost a missed opportunity. After building a commanding 21-point lead in the first half, Meralco failed to sustain its intensity, allowing the Tropang 5G to claw their way back and steal the series opener.

     

    Still, as Trillo reviewed the game, the conversation quickly shifted beyond execution and into the flow of the officiating.

     

    The numbers told a jarring story. TNT went to the line 47 times, while Meralco managed just 19 free-throw attempts—a 28-shot disparity that Trillo believes had a significant impact on the outcome. The imbalance became even more pronounced down the stretch, with the Bolts taking only two free throws in the fourth quarter compared to TNT’s 10.

     

    “Give credit to their physicality,” said Trillo, referring to TNT. “But again, they were awarded 17 free throws in the third quarter. End of the third, the foul calls were 24-12. At the end of the game, it was 31-17.

     

    “I think our team is not that bad at playing defensively,” Trillo said after the 100-95 loss on Sunday when the Bolts blew a 52-31 advantage in the second quarter.

     

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    “We are at fault. We didn’t match their intensity. But when you give a team 47 free throws, and it magically goes there, the PBA has to also look at the referees and check if they are making the right calls consistently for both teams.”

     

    Beyond the raw numbers, Trillo also pointed to moments he felt swung momentum away from Meralco—particularly drives by Chris Newsome that went unwhistled and a technical foul assessed on active consultant Nenad Vucinic late in the third quarter.

     

    “New (Chris Newsome) is going to the basket, he is getting bumped and they were not making a call. But when these guys (TNT) drive, there is an automatic foul. When you look at the flopping, they called us for flopping, [Rey] Nambatac flopped, [RR] Pogoy flopped.”

     

    “A bad word was said by Oftana… there was no technical foul. Our active consultant says something, and he gets called for a T. All I’m saying is let’s be consistent with the calls. If somebody says a bad word, give a technical.

     

    “If we are being called for those bump fouls, then we have to analyze that. I’m just saying what I saw. I have to check on the video,” said Trillo.

     

    Despite the pointed remarks, Trillo stopped short of placing the blame solely on officiating. He emphasized that Meralco’s biggest task heading into Game 2 is fixing what it can control—execution, composure, and matching TNT’s physical approach for a full 48 minutes.

     

    “Certainly, we need to be better. This is a champion team and they are playing better the last three conferences. Our hands are going to be full,” said Trillo.

     

    As the series shifts deeper into its grind on Wednesday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, Meralco will be looking not just for a more even whistle—but for a sharper, tougher version of itself to avoid falling into a deeper hole against a battle-tested TNT side.

     

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  • Ginebra outlasts San Miguel, TNT rallies past Meralco to seize early edge in Philippine Cup semifinals

    Ginebra outlasts San Miguel, TNT rallies past Meralco to seize early edge in Philippine Cup semifinals

    Depth and decisiveness defined the opening night of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals, as Barangay Ginebra and TNT Tropang 5G seized early control of their respective best-of-seven series at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

     

    Ginebra drew its edge from unlikely sources, leaning heavily on its second unit to blunt San Miguel Beer’s firepower and snap the Beermen’s 10-game winning streak with a 99-90 victory.

     

    What began as a tight, physical contest tilted sharply in the fourth quarter, when Ralph Cu and Norbert Torres flipped the script. The frontcourt duo buried four straight triples to turn a slim deficit into an 84-81 advantage, swinging momentum firmly toward the crowd favorites.

     

    From there, RJ Abarrientos and the regular rotation closed the door, with Ginebra’s bench answering the call of coach Tim Cone in emphatic fashion.

     

    Abarrientos led all Gin Kings with 23 points, four rebounds, and seven assists, while Cu and Torres combined for 21 points, accounting for half of the team’s 12 three-pointers.Along with Jayson David’s 10 markers, Ginebra’s reserves piled up 54 points—production that ultimately neutralized a monster night from June Mar Fajardo.

     

    The nine-time MVP delivered a dominant 27-point, 23-rebound performance, complete with three assists, a steal, and a block, but it wasn’t enough to keep San Miguel from falling behind 0-1. 

     

    Scottie Thompson added 22 points for Ginebra, with Troy Rosario, Japeth Aguilar, and Stephen Holt chipping in timely contributions. For the Beermen, CJ Perez and Marcio Lassiter scored 18 and 12, respectively, as the defending champions struggled from deep, hitting just 5-of-25 from long range.

     

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    Earlier in the evening, TNT authored a comeback of its own, riding Calvin Oftana’s late-game brilliance to escape Meralco, 100-95, and draw first blood in their semifinal duel. 

     

    Down by as many as 21, the Tropang 5G refused to fold, steadily chipping away until the game reached a tense deadlock late in the fourth.

     

    Oftana delivered the turning point—a three-point play with 2:57 remaining that broke a 91-all tie and shifted control to TNT for good. 

     

    Moments later, he found Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser cutting to the basket to stretch the lead, before calmly sealing the win at the free-throw line. 

     

    Oftana finished with 28 points on efficient shooting, along with seven rebounds and two assists, anchoring TNT’s rally.

     

    Rey Nambatac and Roger Pogoy provided secondary scoring with 17 and 16 points, respectively, while Ganuelas-Rosser posted a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. 

     

    Meralco stayed within striking distance behind Chris Banchero’s 16 points and CJ Cansino’s 14, but the Bolts’ final push fizzled when a contested three in the closing seconds missed its mark—an ending reminiscent of their earlier-season collapse against the same opponent.

     

    With both series now underway, the semifinals head into Game 2 on Wednesday at the Big Dome, where Ginebra and TNT will look to press their advantage, while San Miguel and Meralco aim to reset the narrative in what is shaping up to be a fiercely contested march toward the Finals.

     

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  • PBA Philippine Cup semis set as sister teams collide 

    PBA Philippine Cup semis set as sister teams collide 

    The PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals are officially locked in, and the stage is set for a compelling mix of sister-team showdowns and classic rivalries following a dramatic close to the quarterfinal round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

     

    Meralco stamped its return to the semifinals for the first time since its 2024 title run after toppling Rain or Shine, 98–89, despite carrying a lower seed and facing a twice-to-beat disadvantage. 

    The Bolts leaned on poise and late-game execution to overcome years of playoff frustration, snapping a streak of three straight quarterfinal exits. 

     

    Chris Newsome spearheaded the breakthrough with 31 points, delivering timely baskets each time the Elasto Painters threatened. His layup halted a late Rain or Shine surge that trimmed the gap to four, before a dagger jumper with 1:13 remaining sealed the upset.

     

    “Rain or Shine, high character team. Last three conferences making the semifinals. They are doing great things there. You know that they are going to keep on coming. Just proud of the guys for the way they gutted it out,” said Meralco coach Luigi Trillo.

     

    Chris Banchero added 21 points, while CJ Cansino chipped in 15 points and eight rebounds before fouling out. On the other side, Adrian Nocum nearly willed Rain or Shine back from an 11-point deficit, pouring in 29 points, while Gian Mamuyac finished with 20. 

     

    The loss also marked the end of Rain or Shine’s run of four straight semifinal appearances and served as the final PBA game for franchise icon Gabe Norwood.

     

    Awaiting Meralco in the next round is its sister team TNT, setting up an all-MVP Group semifinal that guarantees one of the league’s corporate rivals a spot in the finals.

     

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    On the other side of the bracket, Barangay Ginebra arranged yet another heavyweight duel with San Miguel Beer after surviving one of the most dramatic games of the conference. 

     

    Stephen Holt buried a buzzer-beating three in overtime to lift the Gin Kings past Converge, 99–98, completing a furious comeback from a six-point deficit in the final minutes of extra time. Holt’s shot sparked pandemonium at the Big Dome, remarkable for a player who had struggled all night and was just 1-of-7 before the final play.

     

    Ginebra’s escape was set up earlier when Jeremiah Gray sank three pressure-packed free throws with 3.4 seconds left in regulation, extending the contest after Converge committed a costly foul on a three-point attempt.

     

     RJ Abarrientos led the Gin Kings with 20 points, while Scottie Thompson had 13 points and eight assists before fouling out. Jayson David scored 13 before exiting with a dislocated shoulder, as Ginebra closed the game without both Thompson and Japeth Aguilar.

     

    The win booked a familiar semifinal showdown against defending champion San Miguel Beer, reviving memories of last season’s seven-game classic where LA Tenorio authored a Game 6 buzzer-beater. 

     

    With Ginebra riding momentum and San Miguel carrying championship pedigree, another chapter in one of the PBA’s most storied rivalries is set to unfold starting January 4.

     

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  • Chris Newsome sees an MVP path for Rain or Shine’s Adrian Nocum

    Chris Newsome sees an MVP path for Rain or Shine’s Adrian Nocum

    What stood out to Chris Newsome in Meralco’s hard-fought quarterfinal clash against Rain or Shine wasn’t just the final score—it was the presence of a young guard who played with no hesitation, no fear, and plenty of promise.

     

    Adrian Nocum’s emergence in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup did not go unnoticed, especially by one of the league’s most respected backcourt leaders. 

     

    After seeing the Mapua product up close in their knockout encounter, Newsome offered rare praise that went beyond surface-level admiration, pointing instead to Nocum’s long-term potential as a franchise cornerstone.

     

    “He’s definitely a stud, man. He’s a hooper for sure,” Newsome said. “I think one thing that Adrian is going to have to figure out is how to lead his team, and that’s just going to come with a matter of time. Talent-wise, the basketball skill, everything is all there already.”

     

    Nocum backed up those words with production throughout the conference. The Rain or Shine guard averaged 14.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, while delivering his best outing when it mattered most—dropping a season-high 29 points in a do-or-die game against Meralco on December 29. 

     

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    Even in defeat, his willingness to take responsibility and push the pace reflected a player eager to shoulder a bigger role.

     

    For Newsome, the next phase of Nocum’s growth has less to do with scoring and more to do with command. Leadership, he believes, is the final piece that could elevate the young guard from rising star to elite status in the league.

     

    “Once he becomes a really good leader for his team, he’s going to be unstoppable and can potentially be an MVP someday,” Newsome said.

     

    Coming from a veteran who has navigated pressure-packed playoff battles and international stages, the endorsement carries weight. 

     

    And if Nocum continues to marry his scoring instincts with leadership maturity, Rain or Shine may already have its future leader in place.

     

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