Ginebra Goes Back To The Finals After a Dominating Game Seven Against Star



Photo by PBA Media Bureau

To get to the finals again, it has not been easy for the league’s most popular ball club to book that ticket. After being through 5 do-or-die match ups in their campaign this conference, the Never Say Die attitude has been put to a test as they all succeeded in overcoming all these challenges. 

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel finally gets the chance to have a back to back finals appearance beating Star Hotshots in a dominant performance on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in front of a mammoth crowd listed at approximately 20,000 gate attendance and in front of the PBA basketball legend and former Playing Coach of the Ginebra Franchise, Sonny Jaworski. 

The whole squad dominated the first quarter ending it with 10 point lead led by their gunners Joe Devance, Japeth Aguilar, Sol Mercado and LA Tenorio. 

Sol Mercado who recorded a new season high 23 points and 5 assists led the Ginebra Squad with his hot beyond the arc conversions coupled with inside the basket penetration that leaves the Star Defense weightless. 

Marc Pingris, who played his heart out during the last part of the match was not able to sustain his energy although Allein Maliksi who also had an awesome performace also could not make it all for the Hotshots after scoring more than 20 points from his three point attempts. 

Star, was able to play catch up and even inched the lead to within three points but Ginebra has managed to find a way out of this collision after pulling away and gets 13 point lead at the end of regulation. 

The scores: 

GINEBRA 89 – Mercado 23, Tenorio 21, Aguilar 19, Thompson 10, Devance 7, Cruz 6, Ferrer 2, Marcelo 1, Caguioa 0, Ellis 0. 

STAR 76 – Maliksi 22, Pingris 17, Ramos 14, Barroca 8, Reavis 5, Lee 4, Jalalon 4, Melton 2, Simon 0, Sangalang 0, Dela Rosa 0. 

Quarterscores: 26-16, 45-36, 65-61, 89-76.

Paul Lee and the Rest of the Star Hotshots Bags First Win Against Ginebra

Photo By PBA Media Bureau

Star Hotshots who had a hard time to overcome Ginebra’s defense draws first blood against one of the toughest team to beat Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

On a Thursday night in Araneta Coliseum, another Manila Clasico has concluded in front of a huge crowd. Ginebra led by as much as 11 points during the first half but suddenly lost control during the 3rd quarter after a lot of turnovers that resulted to converted points by the Star Hotshots who successfully executed their plays.

Both teams have had different lead changes and deadlocks during the game but Paul Lee and the rest of the Star squad found their rhythm during the pay off period. Paul Lee clinched a key shot to give them a safe cushion to take the game away from the crowd favorite.

With 4 points apart, Ginebra tried to take a quick three pointer during the last 30 seconds but missed it. It was an off night for both Aguilar and Tenorio who could’ve changed the game but promised to get back stronger on their next match on Saturday in Mall of Asia Arena.

The scores:

STAR 78 – Lee 18, Barroca 17, Pingris 9, Sangalang 8, Maliksi 7, Jalalon 6, Reavis 5, Melton 5, Dela Rosa 2, Ramos 1, Brondial 0.


GINEBRA 74 – Aguilar 11, Ellis 12, Cruz 10, Mercado 10, Tenorio 8, Thompson 7, Ferrer 7, MArcelo 5, Mariano 4.


Quarterscores: 14-19, 37-38, 60-58, 78-74.

Japeth Aguilar’s heroic causes Ginebra a win away from finals appearance

Photo by PBA Media

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel went through a very rough path before getting their 2nd win in the semi-finals series against the San Miguel Beermen giving them a inch distance away from their finals appearance where they will face the winner of the series between Meralco and TNT.

It was a tight ball game from the tip off to the final period having the two teams exchange leads from time  to time and even had multiple deadlocks through out the quarters. The beermen continues to show their successful three point skills which have been dangerous from the start of the series.

Junmar Fajardo was limited with playing minutes because of foul trouble having 5 fouls listed in the 4th quarter which made coach Leo Austria to bench him out for long minutes, Ginebra took advantage of this edge and gets their points from inside the pain and penetrations.

At the fourth quarter with 30 seconds left on the clock the beermen was on the driver seat with a precarious 1 point lead. Ginebra has the possession and decided not to call a time out to go back to the drawing board. Justin Brownlee fired a three and missed then Scottie Thompson gets the possession and attempted a lay up and was also not successful. LA tenorio got the ball with 8 seconds on the clock and dished it to Sol Mercado who immediately attacked the basket which lured the SMB defense leaving Japeth Aguilar at the wing side, Sol Mercado passed the ball to Japeth then Aguilar took a jumper with approximately 1 second on the clock and sinks the winning jumper.

Best Player of the Game:

Scottie Thompson 12 points, 10 rebound and 10 assists

Ginebra secures first win in semi final round against San Miguel



Photo By Aldrin Alejo



Ginebra with a surprising comeback after a disappointing first half against the San Miguel Beermen. It was an anticipated hard fought game for both teams as San Miguel brings with them their Championship experience while Barangay Ginebra San Miguel lacks experience being on the semi-finals phase. Alex Cabagnot who starte out hot beyond the arc giving Ginebra a hard time to cope up with their own defense because of Beermen’s inside and outside threat. Cabagnot listed 20 points most of it coming from the three point line while Junmar Fajardo who is known to be the focal point of the Beermen’s offense also made it hard for Ginebra to contain the paint as he scored 25 points almost all coming from high percentage field goals. Elijah Millsap, the SMB reinforcement also contributed 29 points who initially made it a stiff road for Ginebra to trail while the Gin Kings play catch up through out the first half.

But on the 3rd quarter, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel made a huge run overcoming a huge deficit of as much as 13 points also grabbed the lead after a few breaks which gave them the lead at the end of the 3rd period at 79-76. Ginebra continued the run in the 4th and maintained their lead though there were instances where SMB is just an inch closer to having the lead back, Sol Mercado who came off the bench contributed a huge 19 points through his clutch baskets and bonus free throws and a couple of treys. Joe Devance also stepped up together with Japeth Aguilar with 12 and 22 points respectively. Japeth and Joe did an awesome job in making it hard for Fajardo to conquer the paint given that they don’t have Greg Slaughter to stop this Best Player candidate. Also Scottie Thompson also known as the best rebounding point guard in the league contributed with almost a triple double performance with 11points 10 rebounds and 6 assists.

Justin Brownlee also with an outstanding performance who always finds a way to rescue the whole Ginebra Squad from a possible loss. Justin Brownlee listed a huge 39 points production. This import

Best Players of the Game:

Justine Brownlee – 39 points.
Sol Mercado – 19 points.


The scores:

GINEBRA 115 -Brownlee 39, Aguilar 22, Mercado 19, Devance 12, Thompson 11, Caguioa 8, Mariano 4, Marcelo 0, Tenorio 0, Cruz 0.

SAN MIGUEL 108 – Millsap 29, Fajardo 25, Cabagnot 20, Santos 15, Lassiter 14, Tubid 3, Espinas 2, Ross 0.

Quarterscores: 24-36, 46-57, 79-76, 115-108