- Barangay Ginebra and TNT Tropang Giga, leading 2-1 in their respective series, go for pivotal leads in their respective PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.
July 2, Wednesday – Mall of Asia Arena
- 5pm – Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings vs San Miguel Beermen
- 7:30pm – Rain or Shine Elasto Painters vs TNT Tropang 5G
TNT Tropang Giga’s Jordan Heading, Glenn Khobuntin, and Henry Galinato Jr. during the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals Game 3 against Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—TNT clamped down on Rain or Shine and ran away with a 109-92 victory for a pivotal 3-1 lead in PBA Philippine Cup semifinals on Wednesday.
The Tropang 5G blew the game wide open late in the third and while Elasto Painters had their chances, TNT’s bench mob made sure to keep them at bay to move within a win of another PBA Finals stint.
“I thought the real key was the emergence of Kim (Aurin), Glenn (Khobuntin) and Poy (Erram) in the second half,” said coach Chot Reyes at Mall of Asia Arena.
TNT may be up 3-1 but coach Chot Reyes finds it hard to celebrate with Kelly Williams’ ankle injury. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/z0AynikQsr
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 2, 2025
LIVE SCORES: Rain or Shine Elasto Painters vs TNT Tropang 5G
- ONE CALL AWAY 📞 TNT moves a win closer to its third straight PBA Finals after taking Game 4 over Rain or Shine, 108-92, and the pivotal 3-1 lead.
- Massive 3 from Khobuntin for TNT amid a run from Rain or Shine. Tropang Giga with a 100-85 lead, under 4 minutes to play.
- Caracut with a 3, Nocum with a steal and a finish! Rain or Shine trims the lead to 97-83.
TNT’s Calvin Oftana is in pain after accidentally stepping on Gabe Norwood’s shoe in the 10:36 mark of the fourth quarter.
He seems to be fine on the bench after being subbed out. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/PUPdc2xXB9
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 2, 2025
- Heading taking over with TNT’s primary scoring options out. He scores another long bomb! 92-75 lead.
- Offense is pouring for TNT. BGR with a putback, Heading with a stepback 3! 89-72 lead, over 9 minutes to play.
- After trailing at the end of the first half, the Tropang 5G are now ahead over the Elasto Painters, 80-69, entering the fourth period.
- Glenn Khobutin with a jumper. He has 9 in the third. TNT ahead 80-69.
- Kim Aurin swishes a baseline jumper. TNT pushes its lead to 67-67.
- Glenn Khobutin pushing TNT’s turnaround here in 3Q as the Tropang 5g lead, 74-67.
LOOK: Thirdy Ravena is in attendance for Game 4 of TNT and Rain or Shine’s semis series. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/x8Zg8GS9ZP
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 2, 2025
- TNT takes the lead, 70-67, on Ganuelas-Rosser’s and-1. 4:01 in the 3Q.
- Rain or Shine hanging on to a slim 61-58 lead over TNT Tropang 5G in the third quarter.
- HALFTIME: Rain or Shine with a six-point lead over TNT at the end of the first two quarters, 47-41
- END OF FIRST: Rain or Shine unloads a balanced scoring first quarter to take a 28-22 lead over TNT.
MORE GAME 4!
After SMB’s dominance of Ginebra, TNT and Rain or Shine take center stage for their own Game 4.
TNT looks to take a 3-1 lead while Rain or Shine aims to tie the series at 2-2. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/w8Ingcn24a
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 2, 2025
IN PHOTOS: San Miguel routs Ginebra
San Miguel Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo during the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals Game 4 against Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—In Games 2 and 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals, June Mar Fajardo was coming off the bench for San Miguel Beer as a precautionary measure.
On Wednesday, however, Fajardo returned to the Beermen’s starting lineup, and it worked to perfection as they evened the semis series at 2-2 after a 107-82 Game 4 win over Barangay Ginebra.
San Miguel Beer and coach Leo Austria had their longest stretch of rest days to thank for the reigning MVP’s return as a starter.
San Miguel Beermen’s Juami Tiongson during the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals Game 4 against Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—San Miguel Beer was all about executing the right plays in Game 4 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals against Barangay Ginebra.
After a neck-and-neck first half, the Beermen did everything right in the third quarter to ultimately bury the Gin Kings, 107-82, and tie the best-of-seven series at 2-2 on Wednesday.
It was the fear of going down 3-1 that fueled San Miguel Beer to go into overdrive in the latter part of the game.
Leo Austria talks about the decision of starting June Mar Fajardo after hurting his calf in Game 1 of the series. | @MeloFuertesINQ
Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/F1BEkRE1eV pic.twitter.com/b4Y6S6spH2
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 2, 2025
San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria and June Mar Fajardo after the Game 4 win. | @MeloFuertesINQ
Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/h3VGC0QbDJ pic.twitter.com/m4YFNgdx1O
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 2, 2025
LIVE SCORES: Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings vs San Miguel Beermen (Game 4)
- FINAL: San Miguel Beer takes Game 4 after routing Barangay Ginebra, tying the Philippine Cup semifinals series at 2-2.
- Ginebra with a run here! Another 3 from Jamie Malonzo. The Gin Kings cut into Beermen lead, 88-72.
- LA Tenorio checks in for Ginebra, but Jeron Teng immediately scores for San Miguel. Beermen leads 85-64, 10 minutes left.
- THIRD QUARTER MASTERCLASS. The Beermen unload an almost-perfect third quarter to enter the final frame with a huge 80-63 lead over Ginebra.
- Brondial hits his second 3! Beermen looking to pull away, lead 76-61.
- RJ Abarrientos ends the drought for Ginebra with an and-1! The Gin Kings trail 61-73, 5:03, 3Q.
- Fajardo finds Brondial for the easy 2 downlow! 17-0 run, 73-58 lead for San Miguel.
- The Beermen on a blazing 15-0 run here in the third quarter for a 71-58 lead, 6:08 in the third.
- San Miguel trying to advance its lead here in the third quarter. 66-58 lead after a basket by Juami Tiongson.
- Jamie Malonzo exploits the opening and gets a 3! Ginebra 54-52, 10:50 3rd quarter.
- AT THE BUZZER. Troy Rosario gets the bang and the bucket at the buzzer to give Ginebra a 51-50 lead over San Miguel Beer at the half.
- San Miguel ties the game at 43 after a 3 from Marcio Lassiter!
- Ahanmisi again! 7-0 run for the Ginebra for a 43-40 advantage over San Miguel.
- Back to back baskets from Scottie Thompson and Maverick Ahanmisi give the Gin Kings the lead back, 41-40, with 4:32 before halftime.
- San Miguel holds on to a 40-36 lead over Ginebra, midway through the second period.
- END OF FIRST: A tight opening period sees Ginebra take a two-point lead over San Miguel Beer, 26-24.
Good afternoon from the Mall of Asia Arena here in Pasay.
Game 4s of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals will commence here today with Ginebra (2-1) duking it out with SMB (1-2) in the first game.
TNT (2-1) takes on Rain or Shine (1-2) in the 7:30 pm game. | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/vp3VFoteuH
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 2, 2025
June Mar Fajardo (with ball) won’t let a slight tear in his calf muscle stop him from leading the Beermen’s series-tying bid. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ
The best strategy may not be enough for Barangay Ginebra or San Miguel Beer to prevail in their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series.
“[It’s] possible [that] the healthier team will likely have the advantage in this series,” Scottie Thompson said in Filipino after the Gin Kings took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven affair with Sunday’s 100-90 win at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Injuries to some of the league’s top stars have been hounding not just the Ginebra-San Miguel series, but also the other semifinal tussle between TNT and Rain or Shine.
FILE–Scottie Thompson and Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings during the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals against San Miguel Beermen. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Barangay Ginebra may have gotten the upper hand over San Miguel Beer anew in its PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series, but there’s no reason for the Gin Kings to take their foot off the gas pedal.
Following the Gin Kings’ 100-90 win in Game 3 that put them ahead 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, star guard Scottie Thompson knows nothing is safe especially against a team like the Beermen.
“This is big for us but it’s not guaranteeing anything because we know San Miguel’s a veteran team,” said the do-it-all guard. “They know what to do after coming off a loss so we have to be ready for Game 4.”
San Miguel Beermen’s Kris Rosales during a PBA Philippine Cup semifinals game against Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—Kris Rosales wasn’t heavily used by San Miguel Beer in the PBA Philippine Cup elimination round or even in the quarterfinals.
It’s a much different story in the semifinals.
“I want to take advantage of the time given to me, whether it’s three, five minutes or whatever the case may be,” said Rosales with Inquirer Sports after losing Game 3 of the semis to Barangay Ginebra at Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night.
Barangay Ginebra guard Scottie Thompson during a PBA Philippine Cup semifinals game between the Gin Kings and the San Miguel Beermen. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
By the time the lights were shut down at Araneta Coliseum late Sunday evening, Scottie Thompson had every reason to gloat about Barangay Ginebra’s decisive advantage.
Instead, the one-time MVP was circumspect.
“This is big for us but it’s not guaranteeing anything,” Thompson said after Ginebra’s 100-90 win over San Miguel Beer in Game 3 of their Philippine Cup semifinal. “San Miguel’s a veteran team. They know what to do after coming off a loss so we have to be ready.”
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