(PBA images)
Back to square one, defending champion San Miguel Beer and longtime rival Barangay Ginebra reset the board as their PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinal turns into a bruising battle for control.
The Gin Kings struck first behind the fearless shot-making of RJ Abarrientos, pulling away late for a 99-90 win in Game 1. Two nights later, the Beermen answered with muscle and depth, leaning on June Mar Fajardo’s familiar dominance and a timely surge from the supporting cast to grind out a 93-84 victory and even the series.
Now trimmed down to a best-of-five, the duel resumes Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with momentum once again up for grabs. Whether this shapes into a full-blown seesaw affair or tilts decisively to one side remains the looming question.
What feels certain is the intensity. By now, Tim Cone’s Gin Kings and Leo Austria’s Beermen know exactly what they’re dealing with, and neither side plans on blinking.
“It’s a good thing we’re able to tie the series,” Austria said. “Going down 0-2 is really hard. Although we’ve done it before, it’s really hard against a team like Ginebra.”
Ginebra’s calling card is its never-say-die spirit, but San Miguel continues to wield a massive advantage in the middle with Fajardo, who has been churning out monster numbers almost routinely. The eight-time MVP is riding a three-game stretch of at least 21 points and 20 rebounds dating back to the quarterfinals against NLEX, a reminder of why he remains the league’s ultimate game-changer.
Even so, Cone took some comfort in Game 1, when the Kings still managed to win despite Fajardo erupting for 27 points and 23 rebounds.
Game 2 told a different story. Fajardo posted another 20-20 line, but this time he had plenty of help. Jeron Teng, Jericho Cruz, and Don Trollano sparked the Beermen off the bench, turning balance into the difference.
“We know how tough Ginebra is, so we all have to play well to beat them,” said Teng, who went from unused in Game 1 to pivotal in the equalizer.
The former La Salle standout delivered 12 crucial fourth-quarter points and made life difficult for Abarrientos on the defensive end, flipping the tone of the series.
“It’s pure guts for Jeron,” Austria said. “In the first game I wasn’t able to use him, and I felt guilty. After the game I told him, be ready. I appreciate him so much. He’s a true pro, no questions, no complaints. I told him, your time will come.”
Game 1 belonged to Abarrientos. Game 2 swung to Teng and the Beermen.
As the rivalry heads into Game 3, the only certainty is that someone else is about to seize the moment.