The 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup went back to the Metro for its regular Sunday double-header, and it pitted two cellar-dwellers—Blackwater Bossing and Terrafirma Dyip—and two title contenders—TNT Tropang 5G and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. Here’s what went down at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium:
Blackwater Edges Out Terrafirma in Battle of Also-Rans
Sedrick Barefield and Christian David took over in the fourth quarter to help the Blackwater Bossing thwart the Terrafirma Dyip, 97-82, in a battle of the two teams at the cellar.
Barefield and David—the Bossing’s two bright spots this conference—dropped 8 and 7, respectively, in the final canto to finally put away the gritty Dyip. David fired 19 in total, while Barefield chipped in 12. Meanwhile, Russell Escoto scored a career-high 21 for Blackwater, including 15 in a searing second quarter that saw the Bossing build a 45-27 bubble. Big man Bradwyn Guinto also got into the act, firing all of his 8 markers in the third quarter to help Blackwater stay in the lead.
Louie Sangalang capped off his breakout conference with a game-high 24 points, while Stanley Pringle and Brent Paraiso chipped in 12 apiece. Terrence Romeo added 10.
With the loss, Terrafirma concluded its Season 49 campaign with another defeat. Blackwater has one more game left and will look to end this season on a winning note.
The scores:
Blackwater (97) – Escoto 21, David 19, Barefield 12, Ilagan 12, Andrade 10, Guinto 8, Mallilin 6, Tratter 4, Mitchell 3, Chua 2, Casio 0, Ayonayon 0, Jopia 0
Terrafirma (82) – Sangalang 24, Paraiso 12, Pringle 12, Romeo 10, Nonoy 9, Ramos 7, Catapusan 4, Hanapi 4, Melecio 0, Olivario 0, Zaldivar 0, Hernandez 0, Ferrer 0
Up Next:
Blackwater vs. Phoenix Fuel Masters on June 13 (Ninoy Aquino Stadium)
Ginebra Rolls All Over TNT, Spoils Jordan Heading’s Debut
Barangay Ginebra started off with 13 unanswered points and never looked back, routing the TNT Tropang 5G, 97-78, in the teams’ first encounter since their epic 2024–25 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
Japeth Aguilar, who finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds, led Ginebra’s torrid first quarter that saw the crowd darlings race out to a 30-11 cushion. Ginebra kept building on that lead with some hot shooting in the middle quarters, ultimately ending the first half with a 54-27 lead and extending it to as much as 29 a couple of times in the third.
RJ Abarrientos led all scorers with 23 points on five triples. Starters Stephen Holt and Jamie Malonzo added 12 apiece, while Troy Rosario chipped in 11. Scottie Thompson, as usual, did a little bit of everything with 5 points, 3 rebounds, 10 assists, 5 steals, and 1 block.
Calvin Oftana led TNT with 18 markers. Jordan Heading, acquired by TNT in a high-profile trade that involved two-time Finals MVP Mikey Williams, was the only other Tropa in double-digits with his 10 points off the bench.
With the win, Ginebra climbed to 7-3 and all but secured a spot in the top four. TNT, meanwhile, dropped to 6-4 and needs to win its final game—versus the Magnolia Hotshots—to have a chance at getting the twice-to-beat edge.
The scores:
Barangay Ginebra (97) – Abarrientos 23, J. Aguilar 20, Holt 12, Malonzo 12, Rosario 11, Pinto 6, Thompson 5, R. Aguilar 4, David 2, Gray 2 Adamos 0, Cu 0, Ahanmisi 0
TNT (78) – Oftana 18, Heading 10, Aurin 9, Williams 8, Pogoy 8, Khobuntin 7, Enciso 5, Nieto 4, Vosotros 3, Ganuelas Rosser 2, Varilla 2, Erram 2, Heruela 0
Up Next:
Ginebra vs. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on June 15 (Ynares Center – Antipolo)
TNT vs. Magnolia on June 13 (Ninoy Aquino Stadium)
2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup Continues
The 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup takes a break for two days before action resumes on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The NLEX Road Warriors will look to keep up its superlative showing this conference when they take on the NorthPort Batang Pier in the first game. In the second game, the San Miguel Beermen will try to keep their momentum when they face off against the Converge FiberXers.
