(PBA image)
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel leaned on depth, energy, and timely shot-making to seize early control of its semifinal series, riding a dominant bench performance to a 99-90 victory over the San Miguel Beermen in Game 1 of their PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven showdown Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
RJ Abarrientos spearheaded the charge, torching the Beermen with a team-high 23 points as Ginebra’s second unit flat-out outworked its counterpart. Ralph Cu, Jayson David, and Norbert Torres supplied steady support, combining for 31 points as the Gin Kings’ reserves poured in 54 points—nearly doubling San Miguel’s 29 off the bench—to halt the defending champions’ 10-game winning run.
Ginebra head coach Tim Cone said the bench battle was a clear focal point going in, fully aware of San Miguel’s depth and production beyond the starters. The response, he noted, was exactly what the Kings needed against a powerhouse opponent.
The win did not come easily. San Miguel leaned once more on June Mar Fajardo, who delivered another imposing performance with 27 points and 23 rebounds. Yet even a monster night from the league’s most decorated big man was not enough to tilt the game back in the Beermen’s favor as Ginebra matched every surge with poise and grit.
Scottie Thompson provided stability and scoring punch with 23 points, while Troy Rosario and Japeth Aguilar chipped in timely baskets to help the Kings survive a wild swing of momentum. Ginebra squandered an early 12-point cushion, then clawed back from an eight-point hole before asserting itself when it mattered most.
Abarrientos was at the heart of the decisive push. With Ginebra clinging to an 86-85 lead, the rookie guard strung together five straight points to ignite an 11-1 run that finally broke San Miguel’s resistance and sealed the result, handing the Beermen their first loss in over two months.
The young playmaker finished with a stat line that reflected his all-around impact, going 6-of-15 from the field and a near-perfect 9-of-11 from the line, while adding seven assists, nine rebounds, and two steals against just two turnovers.
For Abarrientos, the night was about trust and playing within the team’s rhythm. For Ginebra, it was a statement that depth and energy can go toe-to-toe with star power. And for the semifinals, it was a reminder that in this rivalry, no lead—and no streak—is ever truly safe.