(Photo courtesy of PNA)
MANILA – Barangay Ginebra secured a spot in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup semifinals after overpowering San Miguel Beer, 110-94, in their winner-take-all Game 5 quarterfinal showdown at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Tuesday.
The Gin Kings dominated the final period, outscoring the Beermen, 34-14, to seal the series victory and arrange a semifinal matchup against defending champion TNT Tropang 5G.
Import Jordan Murphy led Ginebra with 31 points and 11 rebounds, while Scottie Thompson delivered 29 points, eight rebounds and five steals.
RJ Abarrientos contributed 19 points, five assists and four rebounds, while Nard Pinto added nine points and two steals.
San Miguel suffered a major setback when import George King fouled out with 5:13 remaining in the fourth quarter, allowing Ginebra to take full control of the contest.
The Gin Kings initially took a commanding 2-0 series lead after winning the first two games, 104-95 and 126-99.
However, the Beermen fought back with consecutive victories, 101-99 and 108-102, to force a decisive fifth game.
The defeat marked San Miguel’s second consecutive conference without a semifinal appearance.
Ginebra will next face TNT in a rematch of the Commissioner’s Cup finals, where the Gin Kings emerged victorious.
TNT is expected to be reinforced by returning import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson as it seeks to defend its Governors’ Cup crown.
Meanwhile, NLEX and Converge will battle in the other semifinal series.
The best-of-five semifinals are scheduled to begin December 4, following another league break to accommodate Gilas Pilipinas’ FIBA 2027 World Cup qualifying matches.
The national team will face Syria on November 27 and Iran on November 29 in Seremban, Malaysia, with the games relocated due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
Gilas, currently fifth in Group E with a 4-4 record, will be reinforced by naturalized player Bennie Boatwright, who will replace the injured Justin Brownlee.
