The 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup semis continued on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with one team looking to book a Finals seat, another hoping to survive, and two more trying to get a leg up on each other. Here’s what happened:
Rain or Shine Blows Out Depleted TNT, Extends PBA Philippine Cup Semis Series to Game 6
The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters pounced on an undermanned TNT Tropang 5G to pull out a 113-97 rout in Game 5 of their PBA Philippine Cup Semis showdown.
Gian Mamuyac led a balanced Rain or Shine attack with 22 markers, followed by Jhonard Clarito’s 19 and 11 each from Keith Datu, Adrian Nocum, and Andrei Caracut. Michael Miranda and Caelan Tiongson added 8 apiece, while Anton Asistio and Leonard Santillan both had 7.
The Elasto Painters seized control of Game 5 with a fiery 37-12 explosion in the third quarter, a stark reversal from Game 4 where TNT outscored Rain or Shine 39-22 in the penultimate frame en route to a win.
Calvin Oftana’s 23 markers led the way for TNT, who were playing without the injured RR Pogoy (hamstring) and Kelly Williams (right ankle) and the suspended Chot Reyes, who was barred from Game 5 after accumulating five technical fouls in the conference. Even Oftana was nursing an aching ankle but showed no ill effects of it in the first half, where he fired 20. But he was held to just 3 points the rest of the way.
The scores:
Rain or Shine (113) – Mamuyac 22, Clarito 19, Datu 11, Nocum 11, Caracut 11, Malonzo 8, Tiongson 8, Asistio 7, Santillan 7, Ildefonso 5, Porter 2, Norwood 2, Borboran 0, Escandor 0
TNT (97) – Oftana 23, Enciso 20, Khobuntin 13, Aurin 13, Galinato 9, Vosotros 8, Ganuelas-Rosser 4, Heading 3, Erram 2, Heruela 0, Nieto 0, Varilla 0
San Miguel Repulses Ginebra, Now a Win Away from Clinching PBA Philippine Cup Semis Victory
The San Miguel Beermen have made it two in a row over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, turning in a strong second half to notch a 103-92 victory in Game 5 of their PBA Philippine Cup Semis series.
CJay Perez led all scorers with 31 markers on top of 3 rebounds and 3 assists, while June Mar Fajardo registered 14 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals as he showed no ill effects of his calf injury. But it was Jericho Cruz who proved to be the spark for San Miguel, firing 12 of his 27 points in the third quarter to help the Beermen keep Ginebra at bay.
Maverick Ahanmisi topscored for Ginebra with 19 points, while Scottie Thompson added 14 points and 9 rebounds. The Hustle Man, however, finished with 0 assists, in part because Ginebra shot a ghastly 37% from the field and 29% from downtown. Troy Rosario put up 11 points and 16 boards of his own, but his efforts proved futile versus San Miguel’s firepower.
The scores:
San Miguel (103) – Perez 31, Cruz 27, Fajardo 14, Trollano 11, Tiongson 6, Teng 4, Tautuaa 3, Lassiter 3, Brondial 2, Rosales 2, Ross 0
Ginebra (92) – Ahanmisi 19, Thompson 14, Malonzo 13, J.Aguilar 12, Rosario 11, Holt 10, David 7, Abarrientos 6, R.Aguilar 0, Gray 0
2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup Semis Continue
The 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup semis will continue on Sunday, also at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. In the first game, San Miguel will try to clinch a spot in the Finals, while TNT will try to do the same in the main game.
