Barangay Ginebra San Miguel dismantled the San Miguel Beermen, 126-99, in Game 2 of their PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals series on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The win puts Ginebra on the semis hill with a 2-0 lead over the Beermen.
What Happened?
Ginebra started off blazing hot, with RJ Abarrientos and Stephen Holt drilling in three triples each. In all, the crowd favorites hit eight treys as they stormed to a 34-24 first-quarter lead. But the Beermen fought back in the second canto, with Jerrick Ahanmisi, Don Trollano, and June Mar Fajardo leading a 38-35 quarter to enter halftime down by just seven, 69-62.
Ginebra, though, seized control after halftime, with Abarrientos and import Jordan Murphy spearheading a 33-20 third quarter that gave the barangay a commanding 102-82 advantage heading into the final frame. By then, there was no fight left in the Beermen, who scored a measly 17 points in the fourth to Ginebra’s 24 as the rout was on.
Who Stood Out?
Heroes abound for the barangay in Game 2, with Abarrientos and Holt getting special mention for their torrid first-quarter shooting. The reigning Commissioner’s Cup Best Player of the Conference wound up with 22 points on top of 5 rebounds and 6 assists, while Holt finished with 19. Murphy starred as well, bullying San Miguel’s interior defense for a game-high 33 points to go along with 10 rebounds and 9 assists. Scottie Thompson also sparked Ginebra with an all-around showing of 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists.
San Miguel, on the other hand, struggled as a unit, with only Cjay Perez and Fajardo providing some form of fight. Perez had 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Fajardo put up 16 markers and 9 caroms.
3 Keys to the Game
- Three-point shooting. Ginebra’s eight first-quarter threes set the tone, and the eight the team hit after buried the Beermen. In all, the crowd darlings hit 16-for-35 from downtown compared to 5-for-23 for San Miguel.
- Defense. The barangay’s defense was on point in Game 2 once more, making it difficult for the Beermen to get any kind of rhythm. That defense was particularly unforgiving in the second half, holding San Miguel to just 37 points: 20 in that backbreaking third quarter and only 17 in the fourth.
- Execution. Ginebra’s execution was just as stellar as its defense, and it showed in the 32 assists it tallied compared to only 14 from San Miguel.
Next Up for the PBA: Quarterfinals
Saturday, October 31, 2026 | Ninoy Aquino Stadium
NLEX Road Warriors vs. Phoenix Fuel Masters (5:15 p.m.)
TNT Tropang 5G vs. Magnolia Hotshots (7:30 p.m.)
