Ginebra Rallies from 18 Down to Shock San Miguel in Game 1 of PBA Philippine Cup Semifinals
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel pulled off a gutsy comeback to draw first blood in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals, edging out the San Miguel Beermen, 73-71, on a rainy Wednesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Down by as many as 18 points in the second quarter, the Gin Kings showed trademark poise and resilience, chipping away at the deficit before taking control in the final minutes of the game. The win gives Ginebra a crucial 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven series, with Game 2 set for Friday at 5:00 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
Japeth Aguilar led the charge with 18 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block, while Scottie Thompson, who was named Best Player of the Game, added 16 points, 8 rebounds, an assist, and a steal, anchoring Ginebra’s comeback with clutch plays on both ends.
San Miguel appeared in control early, thanks to a strong start by Jericho Cruz, who knocked down a three-pointer in the second quarter that extended the Beermen’s lead to 18 points. By halftime, Ginebra had trimmed the gap to 45-37, setting the stage for a second-half surge.
In the fourth quarter, it was Stephen Holt who delivered a go-ahead three-pointer with 2:04 remaining, giving Ginebra a slim 70-69 lead. CJ Perez briefly put San Miguel back on top with a layup, but Troy Rosario calmly sank two clutch free throws to regain the lead for the Gin Kings, 72-71.
WATCH: San Miguel vs. Ginebra (Game 1 – June 25, 2025) Game Highlights
Ginebra’s defense stepped up in the final minute, forcing key stops and denying San Miguel any chance to respond. Holt added one more free throw and strategically missed his second attempt to prevent a final Beermen possession, sealing the dramatic two-point win.
Despite the loss, Perez paced the Beermen with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists, while June Mar Fajardo was limited to just 6 points, though he pulled down a game-high 19 rebounds.
Ginebra now looks to carry its momentum into Game 2, while San Miguel aims to regroup and even the series in what’s shaping up to be an intense semifinal showdown.
