San Miguel and Ginebra Advance to PBA Commissioner’s Cup Semifinals
MANILA – In a thrilling night of basketball, San Miguel and Ginebra emerged victorious in their respective PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinal matches at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City, setting the stage for a semifinal showdown.
According to the Philippines News Agency, San Miguel secured their semifinal berth first, overcoming the Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters with a close score of 127-122. The match was evenly poised at halftime with a tie at 67, but San Miguel took charge in the third quarter, outscoring Rain Or Shine 42-22, establishing a 20-point lead. Despite a late rally by the Elasto Painters, which brought them within eight points, San Miguel held on to win.
Bennie Boatwright spearheaded San Miguel’s victory with a remarkable 41-point performance, complemented by 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and a block. Jericho Cruz contributed 20 points, and June Mar Fajardo added a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, along with 5 assists. Tree Treadwell led the effort for Rain Or Shine with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists.
In the night’s second game, Ginebra defeated NorthPort Batang Pier with a score of 106-93. Ginebra dominated the second quarter, creating a significant halftime lead of 55-35. NorthPort attempted a comeback in the third quarter, narrowing the gap to 10 points, but Ginebra regained control in the final quarter, extending their lead to 20 points. NorthPort’s late 9-0 run only marginally reduced the deficit.
Tony Bishop was the standout player for Ginebra, scoring 31 points and securing 15 rebounds. He was supported by Jamie Malonzo with 21 points and Christian Standhardinger with 18 points and 10 rebounds. NorthPort’s performance featured 19 points each from JM Calma and Joshua Munzon, with Calma also grabbing 10 rebounds. Venky Jois contributed with an all-around performance of 18 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists.
The best-of-five series between San Miguel and Ginebra is scheduled to commence at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Wednesday night, promising an exciting matchup in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.