The 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup continued on Sunday with a double-header at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. It featured the defending champs and the champions of the last two conferences. Here’s a recap of what went down:
Rain or Shine Stops Meralco Behind Complete Team Effort
Three players scored at least 24 points to power the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters past the Meralco Bolts, 126-112, to notch their second win in the 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup.
Leonard Santillan fired a game-high 27 points, while Gian Mamuyac and Adrian Nocum chipped in 24 apiece to help Rain or Shine gradually build a cushion against the defending champions. Felix Lemetti and Gabe Norwood added 13 and 12, respectively, even as Jhonard Clarito scattered 10 more.
Bong Quinto topscored for Meralco with 23 points, followed by 21 each from Reymar Jose and CJ Cansino. Chris Newsome, though, was held to just 3 markers as the Bolts got undone by a 36-23 third quarter that extended Rain or Shine’s 66-59 halftime lead to 102-82 going to the fourth.
The scores:
Rain or Shine (128) – Santillan 27, Mamuyac 24, Nocum 24, Lemetti 13, Norwood 12, Clarito 10, Malonzo 9, Caracut 7, Borboran 2, Asistio 0
Meralco (116) – Quinto 23, Jose 21, Cansino 21, Banchero 14, Hodge 8, Caram 7, Bates 6, Black 5, Rios 4, Newsome 3, Reyson 2, Almaazan 2, Pascual 0
Up Next:
Rain or Shine vs. Converge FiberXers on April 30 (PhilSports Arena)
Meralco vs. NorthPort Batang Pier on May 9 (PhilSports Arena)
Converge Overcomes TNT as Young Core Steps Up
The young core of the Converge FiberXers played true to form to lead the team to a 100-94 triumph over the TNT Tropang Giga.
Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar led the way for Converge, dominating the paint with impressive double-doubles, with the former scattering 22 points and 11 rebounds and the latter finishing with 21 points and 12 boards. They also shot a combined 18-for-27 from the field to underscore their efficient dominance. Deschon Winston and Alec Stockton added 19 apiece as Converge started out hot before holding on in the fourth quarter.
Calvin Oftana carried the fight for TNT with 33 big points, while RR Pogoy added 15. Rey Nambatac chipped in 11 for the Tropang 5G, who are winless in their two games in the 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup after dropping their debut to the NLEX Road Warriors.
The scores:
Converge (100) – Arana 22, Baltazar 21, Winston 19, Stockton 19, Garcia 6, Racal 5, Suerte 4, Nermal 2, B. Santos 2, Delos Santos 0, R. Santos 0, Ambohot 0, Corpuz 0
TNT (94) – Oftana 33, Pogoy 15, Nambatac 12, Erram 9, Enciso 9, Williams 8, Khobuntin 5, Aurin 3, Varilla 0, Razon 0
Up Next:
Converge vs. Rain or Shine on April 30 (PhilSports Arena)
TNT vs. Phoenix Fuel Masters on May 2 (Ynares Center – Montalban)
2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup Continues
The 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup continues on Wednesday at the PhilSports Arena. Converge and Rain or Shine will meet in the curtain-raiser followed by Barangay Ginebra San Miguel taking on the NorthPort Batang Pier in the nightcap.
