The PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup semifinals begin on Wednesday with the league returning to the SM Mall of Asia Arena for the series openers.
Here are some storylines of the PBA Final Four.
TNT VS. RAIN OR SHINE
- When: Wednesday, June 25. 5 p.m.
- Where: Mall of Asia Arena
Start of their third straight semifinal match-up
TNT and Rain or Shine once again battle each other in the semifinals, this time in the all-Filipino. The Tropang 5G went through the Elasto Painters before winning the Governors’ and Commissioner’s Cups and they will look to do the same in their Grand Slam bid.
Twice winners in quarterfinals
Both squads are coming off a high after overcoming separate foes with twice-to-beat advantages. In their knockout games last Saturday, TNT survived Magnolia, 80-79, courtesy of two late free throws by Kelly Williams, while Rain or Shine got past NLEX, 103-92.
'Michael Jhonard' in the spotlight
The rebounding numbers will be in the spotlight for the series, especially after the memorable effort of Jhonard Clarito during Rain or Shine’s quarterfinal series against NLEX where he averaged 18.5 rebounds, which included a 21 in the first game against the Road Warriors.
Because of Clarito, the Elasto Painters averaged 52 rebounds during the quarterfinals, more than what TNT was able to collect with 48.5 during the Magnolia series.
Pogoy on an offensive tear
In the Magnolia series, RR Pogoy was outstanding after averaging 24 points per outing in the quarterfinals, including a 30-point outing in the first game. Pogoy could be a major problem for Rain or Shine after he hit for 35 points in their elimination round encounter last May 21.
Jordan Heading saw action in the two quarterfinals games for TNT, but it appears that his back issues have returned. Tropang 5G coach Chot Reyes said Heading didn't practice before the knockout quarterfinal game against Magnolia and only saw action against the Hotshots in few stretches.
The impact of his potential absence to an already lean TNT backcourt sans Jayson Castro and Rey Nambatac remains to be seen.
SAN MIGUEL VS. BARANGAY GINEBRAM
- When: Wednesday, June 25. 7:30 p.m.
- Where: Mall of Asia Arena
San Miguel and Barangay Ginebra figure in another high-stakes match-up, this time in the Philippine Cup semifinals. This is their second semifinals affair with the Gin Kings beating the Beermen in the season-opening Governors’ Cup, 4-2.
Ginebra will have to earn another finals appearance with the Philippine Cup known to be SMB's dominion being a 10-time champion in the conference.
Quarterfinal results
San Miguel and Ginebra cruised to the semifinals, with the Beermen dethroning last season’s champion Meralco, 108-97, and the Gin Kings defeating Converge, 88-80, last Friday, giving both teams enough time to prepare for their respective opponents.
June Mar and Japeth face off again
Two of the top veteran bigs in the league in June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar will be battling each other more.
Fajardo is yet again enjoying individual success in the Philippine Cup being the leader in the Best Player of the Conference statistical race after averaging 17.6 points and 13.1 rebounds in the elimination round. Aguilar is having one of his best conferences of his career, contributing a team-best 18.2 points and 7.8 rebounds during the elims.
SMB’s offense faces test against Ginebra’s defense
San Miguel was the most prolific scoring team in the Philippine Cup by averaging 108 points per game during the elimination round. The Beermen’s offense will be tested against the Gin Kings, who limited teams to the second least points of the conference with 88.82 points.
Semifinal stage for former Terrafirma players
Juami Tiongson is set to play his first semifinals since eight years ago when he was still playing for NLEX. For five years, Tiongson saw action for Terrafirma where the closest he got to a semifinal appearance was in the 2024 Philippine Cup when the Dyip forced his now-current team San Miguel to a knockout game in the quarterfinal round. One of his teammates from that magical run by Terrafirma last season was Stephen Holt, who has become a regular semifinalists since he was acquired by Ginebra last July.
Tiongson is expected to bring added offense to the already high-powered San Miguel squad that also has CJ Perez. If Tiongson heats up, don’t count out the possibility that he will be defended by Holt at some point during the series.
