Gargantuan clash: Ginebra faces San Miguel in semis after eliminating Converge

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The two winningest teams in PBA history collide as Barangay Ginebra tangles with top-seeded San Miguel in the semifinals of the Philippine Cup

MANILA, Philippines – Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone always says that to win a title, teams have to first go through mighty San Miguel.

True enough, the Gin Kings will face the Beermen next in their bid to reach the finals for the third straight time after pulling off an 88-80 win over Converge in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Friday, June 20.

Japeth Aguilar posted 19 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks as Barangay Ginebra advanced, setting up a best-of-seven semifinals against top-seeded San Miguel, which has won the All-Filipino tournament a record 10 times. 

“[A]t some point, whether it be in the quarters or in the semis or the finals, you have to go through them to have a chance to win a championship,” said Cone. 

“That is the runway we’ve been given so that is the runway we got to go through.” 

It will be the second time that the Gin Kings and the Beermen will tangle in the semifinals this season after Ginebra finished off San Miguel in six games in the Governors’ Cup.

The Gin Kings arranged the gargantuan clash between the two winningest teams in PBA history by subduing the young FiberXers thanks to key buckets by RJ Abarrientos down the stretch. 

Abarrientos came off the bench and fired a game-high 21 points, including 5 points in the final 1:10 minutes.

Converge pulled within 76-83 off a pair of Alec Stockton free throws before Abarrientos knocked down a technical free throw then a fallaway jumper from the baseline to give Ginebra an 86-76 lead. 

Abarrientos sank two more free throws to seal the win that sent Ginebra to the final four for the seventh consecutive conference.

Jamie Malonzo chimed in 14 points and 6 rebounds, Stephen Holt tallied 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals, while Troy Rosario contributed 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. 

Twin towers Justin Arana (15 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Justine Baltazar (13 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals) paced the FiberXers, who suffered another early playoff exit as they have yet to make the semifinals.

Converge also reached the quarterfinals of the first two conferences only to get eliminated. 

Stockton finished with 12 points and 5 rebounds, although he struggled offensively, shooting just 20% (3-of-15) from the field. 

The Scores

Barangay Ginebra 88 – Abarrientos 21, J.Aguilar 19, Malonzo 14, Holt 13, Rosario 10, Pinto 5, Thompson 3, Ahanmisi 3, David 0, Adamos 0.

Converge 80 – Arana 15, Baltazar 13, Stockton 12, Winston 10, Garcia 8, Racal 8, Caralipio 6, Corpuz 4, Delos Santos 2, R.Santos 2, B. Santos 0, Suerte 0.

Quarters: 21-26, 49-41, 73-59, 88-80.

– Rappler.com