The PBA Philippine Cup semifinals will tip off on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, and they are sure to feature compelling storylines and major questions whose answers we will all find out soon enough. On one side of the bracket is a match-up between the San Miguel Beermen and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, with the other side featuring a face-off between the TNT Tropang 5G and the Meralco Bolts.
As anticipation rightfully builds for these two showdowns, here are four vital stats to watch out for, as these could dictate how the series goes for each team:
San Miguel – 100
The defending champions are leading the PBA in scoring this conference at 108.7 points per game—and that is nearly four points more than the Titan Ultra Giant Risers’ 104.9. San Miguel has also been in a groove lately, breaching the 100-point mark in six consecutive games and scoring over 110 in five of those outings. If this run of offensive might continues for San Miguel, then it might just be a short series this time around, as Ginebra might not have the firepower to go point for point with the mighty Beermen in these PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.
Barangay Ginebra – 87.7
Ginebra has leaned on its defence these past three conferences, which is not surprising for a Tim Cone-coached squad. That defence has been extra stingy this PBA Philippine Cup, surrendering just 87.7 points and allowing triple digits just thrice all conference long. The last time these two teams met, Ginebra held San Miguel to only 83 points, albeit in a losing effort, mostly because the crowd darlings could not score themselves. But if Ginebra is to have any chance at all against the defending champs in these PBA Philippine Cup semifinals, it will have to start on defence.
TNT – 35.6
No team in the PBA combines three-point shooting proficiency and precision better than TNT. The long ball, along with stifling defence, has been one of the Tropa’s chief weapons in their recent string of success, and it is unsurprisingly a barometer of whether they will win or lose. TNT’s three-point makes in wins or losses are generally the same (12.4 in wins, 12.7 in losses); however, the Tropa shoot far better from deep in wins (35.6 per cent) than in losses (32.8 per cent). Put simply, once TNT gets going from the arc, it becomes very hard to beat—especially on this big stage that is the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.
Meralco – 23.6
Curiously, the Bolts are the best in the league at defending the long ball, holding opponents to—yes, that is right—just 23.6 per cent, which is a full percentage point ahead of second-running Ginebra. That ability to defend the arc will be tested against the PBA’s most prolific and most precise three-point shooting team in TNT. Needless to say, it is imperative for the Bolts to take away one of the Tropa’s biggest weapons if they are to entertain thoughts of beating last season’s PBA Philippine Cup runners-up.
PBA Philippine Cup Semifinals: When Does It Start and Where to Watch
The PBA Philippine Cup semifinals start on Sunday, 4 January 2026, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. It will be the league’s first twin bill of the year, with TNT and Meralco opening hostilities, followed by the nightcap between Ginebra and San Miguel. The PBA Philippine Cup semis will be televised live on RPTV and livestreamed on the One Sports YouTube channel.
