The PBA continued on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with a double-header that featured a championship contender flexing its might and a cellar-dweller playing one of its better games. Indeed, the 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup is starting to go full swing, so we recap the action:
Blackwater Brews Up Third Quarter Storm, Routs NorthPort
A stirring third quarter was all it took for the Blackwater Bossing to get their first win of the 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup via a 120-98 rout of the NorthPort Batang Pier.
The Bossing, up by just one going into intermission, exploded for 40 points in the penultimate period to enter the fourth quarter ahead, 88-74. Sedrick Barefield led the way for Blackwater with 20 markers, while Christian David added 19. RK Ilagan, Russell Escoto, BJ Andrade, and Troy Mallilin each chipped in 10 for the Bossing, who led by as much as 27 points thrice in the second half.
Joshua Munzon’s game-high 27 paced NorthPort, with William Navarro adding 24 points and 11 rebounds—his third straight double-double this conference. Arvin Tolentino put up 15 points in his return from a one-game absence but was just 6-for-17 from the field.
The scores:
Blackwater (120) – Barefield 20, David 19, Ilagan 17, Escoto 15, Andrade 14, Mallilin 10, Ayonayon 9, Guinto 7, Tungcab 5, Chua 2, Tratter 2, Casio 0
NorthPort (98) – Munzon 27, Navarro 24, Tolentino 15, Bulanadi 12, Jalalon 7, Onwubere 6, Cuntapay 3, Flores 3, Yu 1, Nelle 0, Kwekuteye 0, Taha 0
Up Next:
Blackwater vs. NLEX Road Warriors on May 2 (Ynares Center – Montalban)
NorthPort vs. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel on April 30 (PhilSports Arena)
San Miguel Dominates Ginebra in Battle of Contenders
The San Miguel Beermen quickly turned a battle of championship contenders into a laugher, racing out to a 25-11 first quarter lead en route to a dominant 104-93 victory against an overmatched Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to improve to 3-1 in the 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup.
CJay Perez paced the Beermen with 23 points anchored on a pair of four-pointers—including one in the third when Ginebra cut the lead to 11. His seven-point cluster in the fourth on a four ball and a trey also gave San Miguel a 94-75 lead in the fourth to seal the game. June Mar Fajardo added 18 points and 12 boards, while Don Trollana and Jericho Cruz came off the bench to score 19 and 11, respectively.
Troy Rosario’s 24 points and 8 boards led the way for Ginebra, who shot just 8-for-27 from downtown. Stephen Hold had 16, including 12 in the third, while Scottie Thompson finished with 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists.
The scores:
San Miguel (104) – Perez 23, Trollano 19, Fajardo 18, Cruz 11, Tiongson 10, Lassiter 10, Rosales 8, Calma 4, Teng 1, Brondial 0, Cahilig 0, Tautuaa 0, Ross 0
Ginebra (93) – Rosario 24, Holt 16, Malonzo 16, Thompson 14, J. Aguilar 12, Abarrientos 6, Pinto 3, Ahanmisi 2, Cu 0, R. Aguilar 0, Adamos 0
Up Next:
San Miguel vs. TNT Tropang 5G on May 4 (Ynares Center)
Ginebra vs. NorthPorth on April 30 (PhilSports Arena)
2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup Continues
The 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup continues later today with an out-of-town special as the league takes its act to Zamboanga City. It will be a homecoming for Mark Barroca as he will lead the Magnolia Hotshots against the Phoenix Fuel Masters.
