The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals heat up this Sunday, January 11, 2026, with crucial Game 4 matchups set to unfold at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The defending champion San Miguel Beermen aim to push Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings to the brink, while the TNT Tropang 5G seek to regain their advantage against the Meralco Bolts.
Beermen Ride Momentum Despite Fajardo's Struggle
The San Miguel Beermen enter Game 4 with a 2-1 series lead, fueled by a 93-84 victory in Game 3 last Friday. This win came despite their cornerstone, June Mar Fajardo, not being at full strength. After averaging a dominant 24 points and 23 rebounds in the first two games of the series, Fajardo was held to just six points on 1-of-8 shooting from the field in the previous outing.
With the 'Kraken' contained, Don Trollano rose to the occasion in a spectacular fashion. Trollano exploded for a game-high 33 points, carrying the offensive load for the Beermen and proving the team's depth. Reflecting on his performance, Trollano said his mindset was simple: "Game 1 and Game 2 I wasn’t playing good. The mindset ngayong Game 3 is, just play my game, be aggressive and just take the shot when I’m open."
Ginebra's Valiant Effort Falls Short, Cone Demands More
On the other side, Barangay Ginebra's never-say-die spirit was evident as RJ Abarrientos and Scottie Thompson combined for 55 points. However, their stellar individual efforts were insufficient against the balanced attack of the powerhouse Beermen squad.
Ginebra's head coach, the legendary Tim Cone, acknowledged his team's fight but was critical of their overall execution. "We battled and fought all night. We just didn’t play a good game," Cone stated. He emphasized the need for improved composure and clarity, adding, "We lacked poise, we lacked an idea of what we wanted to do out there. We looked confused at times." Cone vowed that his team would double their efforts to tie the best-of-seven series.
TNT Aims to Reclaim Control Against Bolts
In the other semifinal pairing, the TNT Tropang 5G are determined to seize a commanding 3-1 lead when they face the Meralco Bolts in the main game at 7:30 PM. This comes after the Tropang 5G suffered a 89-97 defeat in Game 3 this past Friday, which snapped their winning momentum.
TNT had started the series strong with convincing wins in the first two games, 100-95 in Game 1 and 109-92 in Game 2. The team now looks to bounce back and avoid letting the series become a best-of-three affair, relying on their core players to re-establish their dominance on the court.
The stage is set for a dramatic Sunday of basketball. Can San Miguel move one step closer to the finals, or will Ginebra's never-say-die mantra prevail? Will TNT reassert their early series form, or will Meralco achieve a stunning tie? All answers will be revealed at the MOA Arena.
