Despite ending sixth overall at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, the Philippines quietly delivered one of its strongest performances in Olympic disciplines, matching regional leaders by percentage and signaling promise ahead of the Los Angeles Olympics.
![One shot. One moment. Stephen Holt delivers as Ginebra books a semifinal showdown with San Miguel. [PBA Images]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/PBA-IMAGES231-400x200.jpg)
Stephen Holt delivered the biggest shot of the night, drilling a buzzer-beating three in overtime to send Barangay Ginebra past Converge and into the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.
![Jordan Heading and the Tropang 5G secure their spot in the semis with a big win. [PBA Images]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/PBA-IMAGES165-400x200.jpg)
TNT Tropang 5G defeated Magnolia Hotshots 118-109 Saturday to secure a PBA Philippine Cup semifinal slot, aiming for a fourth consecutive finals appearance.
![Christmas Day belonged to Jokic, but the ripple effects are being felt across the NBA. [photo credit: Denver Nuggets Instagram]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-27-at-22-18-42-Instagram-400x200.png)
Nikola Jokic delivered a historic Christmas Day performance while early-season trends exposed cracks for contenders and highlighted teams thriving on extra possessions.
![Meralco showed poise under pressure to neutralize the twice-to-beat advantage and force a decider. [PBA Images]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/PBA-IMAGES163-400x200.jpg)
Meralco leaned on a blistering first half to overpower Rain or Shine and erase the Elasto Painters’ win-once edge in their PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals. The victory sends the matchup to a deciding Game 3 at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
![Coach Yeng Guiao gives instructions during a tight PBA Philippine Cup game. [PBA Images]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/PBA-IMAGES1525-400x200.jpg)
Rain or Shine puts its twice-to-beat advantage on the line against Meralco as both teams collide in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals at Araneta.
![Kevin Durant directs the Rockets’ offense against the Lakers. [Houston Rockets Instagram]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot_486-400x200.png)
Houston never trailed on Christmas night, riding a balanced scoring attack to a decisive victory over Los Angeles as the Lakers’ holiday woes continued.
![RJ Abarrientos during the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals game. [PBA Images]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/PBA-IMAGES1734-400x200.jpg)
RJ Abarrientos lit up Christmas night with a career-high 35 points off the bench as Barangay Ginebra crushed Converge to keep its PBA Philippine Cup semifinals hopes alive.
![June Mar Fajardo muscles through traffic as SMB storms into the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals. [PBA Images]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/PBA-IMAGES162-400x200.jpg)
San Miguel Beer stormed back after halftime as June Mar Fajardo and Don Trollano powered the defending champions into the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals with a Christmas night win over NLEX.
BRAVE Combat Federation returned to Uzbekistan with a high-octane BRAVE CF 103 at the Universal Sports Complex in Bukhara. The year-ending event delivered seven explosive bouts, highlighted by hometown hero Nozim Kalandarov’s dominant main event performance.