The PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals ignited with high-stakes drama as sister teams clashed, producing two thrilling results on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ginebra's Bench Brigade Ends San Miguel's Dominance
In a stunning reversal of fortune, the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings dethroned the defending champions, the San Miguel Beermen, with a 99-90 victory. This win was particularly significant as it snapped San Miguel's impressive 10-game winning streak in the conference. Ginebra's strategy focused on neutralizing the Beermen's famed bench strength, a challenge head coach Tim Cone explicitly gave to his players.
While guard RJ Abarrientos led the scoring with 23 points, the true heroes were Ginebra's reserves. The trio of Ralph Cu, Jayson David, and Norbert Torres combined for a crucial 31 points, powering the bench to a dominant 54-29 advantage over their San Miguel counterparts. This collective effort overshadowed a monstrous performance from San Miguel's June Mar Fajardo, who recorded a 27-point, 23-rebound double-double.
"We're very aware that they're the No. 1 team in bench points and we challenged our guys to come out and play," Cone stated in the post-game interview on the league's official website. "We got to battle for this one. We're happy to pull this one out despite June Mar having a big game."
TNT Tropang 5G's Miraculous Comeback
The evening's first game set the tone for an unpredictable semifinals series. The TNT Tropang 5G engineered a spectacular comeback, erasing a 21-point first-half deficit to defeat the Meralco Bolts, 100-95. This resilient victory gave TNT a crucial 1-0 lead in their own best-of-seven series.
Calvin Oftana spearheaded the Tropang 5G's charge with a game-high 28 points. His scoring outburst was vital in chipping away at Meralco's once-commanding lead, which stood at 62-46 at halftime. The Bolts, led by Chris Banchero's 16 points, could not withstand TNT's relentless second-half pressure.
Semifinals Series Outlook
The opening games have dramatically shifted the momentum in both semifinals matchups. Ginebra's confidence will be sky-high after conquering the tournament favorites, while San Miguel must find an answer for Ginebra's energized second unit. Similarly, TNT's monumental comeback serves as a warning to Meralco about the series' competitive intensity. With both series poised at 1-0, Game 2 promises even more electrifying basketball as the teams continue their pursuit of a finals berth in the prestigious Philippine Cup.
Final Scores:
First Game: TNT Tropang 5G (100) – Oftana 28, Nambatac 17, Pogoy 16 – def. Meralco Bolts (95) – Banchero 16, Cansino 14, Newsome 13. Quarters: 26-38; 46-62; 74-75; 100-95.
Second Game: Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings (99) – Abarrientos 23, Thompson 22, Cu 13 – def. San Miguel Beermen (90) – Fajardo 27, Perez 18, Lassiter 12. Quarters: 26-18, 48-46, 72-73, 99-90.
