Barangay Ginebra delivered a season-defining response Sunday night, January 11, dismantling San Miguel Beer, 105-91, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena to square their PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinal series at two games apiece. The result wiped out San Miguel’s momentum and pushed the matchup into a best-of-three sprint to the Finals.

After absorbing an early onslaught that saw the Beermen surge ahead by as many as 16 points, the Gin Kings stayed composed and gradually wrestled control. Ginebra’s persistence paid off late as the defending champions ran out of answers in a lopsided closing stretch.

The turning point came in the fourth quarter, when Ginebra suffocated San Miguel on both ends of the floor. The Gin Kings outscored the Beermen 33-16 in the final frame, turning a tight contest into a decisive separation that completely altered the complexion of the series.

Ginebra flips the script late

Ginebra’s ability to erase deficits and impose its tempo proved decisive after halftime. Crisp ball movement and improved defensive rotations forced San Miguel into rushed shots and limited second-chance opportunities despite the Beermen’s rebounding edge.

Timely baskets and stops steadily swung momentum until Ginebra finally seized full control midway through the fourth. A late fast-break finish off a defensive stop pushed the lead to double digits and signaled that the Gin Kings had broken San Miguel’s resistance.

Coach Tim Cone later emphasized execution rather than individual numbers, pointing to the team’s collective discipline and willingness to share the ball. Ginebra finished with 34 assists, a figure Cone identified as a clear marker of the team operating at peak efficiency.

Beermen falter after fast start

San Miguel appeared poised to tighten its grip on the series after a blistering opening quarter. CJ Perez and Chris Ross drilled four three-pointers each in the first 12 minutes, powering the Beermen to a commanding 30-14 advantage.

That shooting touch faded as the game wore on, however, and San Miguel struggled to generate consistent offense against Ginebra’s tightened defense. Perez ended with 22 points, Ross added 20, and Jericho Cruz chipped in 15 off the bench, but the production was uneven.

June Mar Fajardo pulled down 20 rebounds yet managed only nine points on a difficult shooting night, while Don Trollano was limited to eight points after a strong showing in the previous game. The lack of sustained scoring left San Miguel vulnerable once Ginebra made its push.

With the series now reduced to a best-of-three, momentum has swung sharply back to Ginebra, setting the stage for a high-stakes closing stretch where execution and composure will decide who advances.