Romwel Anzures

Barangay Ginebra’s Raymond Aguilar against San Miguel Beer in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals. Photo from PBA Images.

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750865656989IMG_7244.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Barangay Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson against San Miguel Beer in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals. Photo from PBA Images."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Barangay Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson against San Miguel Beer in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals. <em>Photo from PBA Images.</em></span></span></span>MANILA — Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s “Never Say Die” attitude was on full display in their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals Game 1 victory.</div><p>Led by Scottie Thompson, the Gin Kings rallied from as huge as 18 against the San Miguel Beermen for a 1-0 lead.</p><p>But aside from Thompson and their other usual suspects, it was Ginerba’s bench who was also lauded by Tim Cone for their roles in their come-from-behind win.</p><p>“There were special reasons for that,” he said on fielding the likes of Raymond Aguilar, Nards Pinto, and Ben Adamos, together with regular bench guys Troy Rosario, Jeremiah Gray, and Jayson David.</p><p>“Japeth [Aguilar] was struggling with fouls, but we had planned defenses when Troy, Raymond, and Ben were to guard June Mar [Fajardo],” he added.</p><p>R.Aguilar, who had six points, a rebound, and a block off the bench, sparked the run that put their starters in position to rally in the second half and eventually win the game.</p><p>“Raymond stepped up, and one thing about him is he is man’s strong,” raved Cone. “Despite giving up a few inches, he can hold his ground against June Mar.”</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/6/25/pba-ginebra-completes-comeback-to-draw-first-blood-against-san-miguel-2209">READ: Ginebra completes comeback to draw first blood against San Miguel</a></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750865713509IMG_7243.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Barangay Ginebra’s Raymond Aguilar against San Miguel Beer in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals. Photo from PBA Images."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Barangay Ginebra’s Raymond Aguilar against San Miguel Beer in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals. <em>Photo from PBA Images.</em></span></span></span>“And he did more than that, he moved the ball, got some shots, and he was definitely our best player off the bench,” added the Gilas Pilipinas mentor.</div><p>However, Cone admitted that they still showed struggles, especially on the offensive end, and it was their effort on defense that willed them to triumph.</p><p>“We felt we didn’t play the way that we wanted, we held them down in points, but they were still dominating us,” he said.</p><p>The Gin Kings only shot 37% from the field and were only 4-of-19 from three-point range, and it was only in the second half that they found their groove.</p><p>Still, even with these struggles, Thompson said that it would be their defensive efforts that could help them win Game 2.</p><p>“Yung defense namin, yun yung dahilan kung bakit kami naka stay sa game kanina,” said the one-time league MVP, who had 16 points and eight rebounds. “Kaya from the start of the ball game [in Game 2], we have to be mindful especially on the defensive end.”<strong></strong><br/></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:<br/></strong><br/><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8OAKGJA6PcI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s “Never Say Die” attitude was on full display in their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals Game 1 victory.</p>

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s “Never Say Die” attitude was on full display in their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals Game 1 victory.

Cone hails Raymond Aguilar, bench mob for vital roles in 18-pt comeback vs. SMB

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Cone hails Raymond Aguilar, bench mob for vital roles in 18-pt comeback vs. SMB

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 26, 2025 01:33 AM PHT

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