The PBA continued on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum after a one-week break with a double-header that featured the two finalists of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals. With them seeing action, all 12 teams have now played at least a game, so expect the 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup to go full swing. Here’s a recap of the action:
NLEX Upends TNT as Young Guns Spoil the Champs’ Philippine Cup Debut
John Bahio played the best game of his young career, while Xyrus Torres continued his fine play to help power the NLEX Road Warriors to a 91-74 win over the TNT Tropang 5G.
Bahio, the 25th pick of the 2023 PBA Draft, submitted a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds—both career-highs. Torres, meanwhile, fired 13 as six Road Warriors scored at least 10 in their huge win. Robert Bolick added 13 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals. Jayvee Mocon had 11, while Enoch Valdez and Brandon Ramirez each put up 10.
Roger Pogoy and Kelly Williams chipped in 12 and 11, respectively, for the Tropang 5G, who were making the PBA Philippine Cup debut. Poy Erram, Rey Nambatac, and Simon Enciso each added 9, but their efforts were for naught as TNT trailed by as much as 22, 91-69, in the fourth quarter.
The scores:
NLEX (91) – Bolick 13, Bahio 13, Torres 13, Mocon 11, Valdez 10, Ramirez 10, Semerad 6, Nieto 5, Rodger 5, Alas 3, Fajardo 2
TNT (74) – Pogoy 12, Williams 11, Erram 9, Nambatac 9, Enciso 9, Oftana 8, Khobuntin 7, Aurin 4, Payawal 3, Ebona 2, Varilla 0, Heruela 0
Up Next:
NLEX vs. Blackwater Bossing on May 2 (Ynares Center – Montalban)
TNT vs. Converge FiberXers on April 27 (Ynares Center)
Ginebra Dominates Terrafirma Behind Big Game from Japeth Aguilar
Japeth Aguilar fired a 30-piece—including 10 in the first quarter alone—to power Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to a 101-80 rout of the Terrafirma Dyip for a winning debut in the PBA Philippine Cup.
Aguilar added 7 rebounds and 4 blocks to his dynamic debut, while Scottie Thompson filled the stat sheet with 11 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 assists. RJ Abarrientos added 14 on a trifecta of triples, while Stephen Holt fired 10. Nards Pinto and Maverick Ahanmisi chipped in 9 and 8, respectively, for the crowd darlings, who went on a 26-2 to turn a 15-10 deficit to a 36-17 advantage in the second quarter.
CJ Catapusan led the Dyip with 14 markers, followed by Mark Nonoy’s 13, Louie Sangalang’s 12, and Alrech Ramos’s 11.
The scores:
Ginebra (101) – J. Aguilar 30, Abarrientos 14, Thompson 11, Holt 10, Ahanmisi 9, Pinto 8, Gray 6, Rosario 5, Mariano 4, Adamos 2, R. Aguilar 2, Cu 0, Pessumal 0
Terrafirma (80) – Catapusan 14, Nonoy 13, Sangalang 12, Ramos 11, Pringle 9, Zaldivar 7, Ferrer 7, Melecio 4, Paraiso 2, Hernandez 1, Hanapi 0, Olivario 0
Up Next:
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel vs. San Miguel on April 25 (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
Terrafirma vs. Magnolia Hotshots on May 4 (Ynares Center)
2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup Continues
The 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup continues on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with a double-header featuring a potential Finals preview. In the first game, the NorthPort Batang Pier will take on the Blackwater Bossing, while Ginebra will take on the San Miguel Beermen in the nightcap.
