John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

San Miguel superstar June Mar Fajardo. PBA Images

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PBA Images

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:959px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752065967120PBA Images5.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">San Miguel superstar June Mar Fajardo. <em>PBA Images</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA, Philippines<strong> (UPDATED)</strong> – San Miguel clinched the second finals berth in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup, earning the chance to halt TNT in its tracks of achieving a coveted Grand Slam.</p><p>The Beermen ousted the Gin Kings from title contention after a 100-93 decision in Game 7 of the Semifinals, Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.</p><p>Leo Austria and his wards now have a clear opportunity of correcting their last year&#x27;s runner-up finish in the same all-Filipino tournament, although against another squad.</p><p>Banking on a different motivation, they will take on an equally determined Tropang 5G side for the Philippine Cup crown.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s very clear, &#x27;no. They [Beermen] never give up, especially in the last quarter,&quot; said coach Austria during the postgame press conference.</p><p>The Gin Kings had a comfortable 73-62 lead — the biggest in the game — more than a minute left in the third frame, only to squander it to the rallying SMB side.</p><p>The Beermen gave Ginebra a taste of their own medicine, erasing that deficit by capitalizing on the Gin Kings&#x27; missed shots and turnovers, highlighted by baskets of Don Trollano, Jericho Cruz, and Rodney Brondial to tie at 77-77 and eventually gain the driver&#x27;s seat.</p><p>They held onto that separation until the buzzer sounded, despite efforts from RJ Abarrientos and Jamie Malonzo to mount a Ginebra comeback.</p><p>Chris Ross flexed his veteran experience, finding the shots late and teaming up with his big man June Mar Fajardo to keep the Gin Kings at bay.</p><p>When Troy Rosario found the conversion to pull within two, 86-84, Fajardo and Ross answered back with a layup and a triple, respectively, to expand their separation to 91-84.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/7/6/pba-grand-slam-seeking-tnt-pulls-away-late-to-oust-ros-book-finals-return-2223"><strong>READ: PBA: Grand Slam-seeking TNT pulls away late to oust RoS, book Finals return</strong></a></div><p>Fajardo and Ross were the protagonists again in crunch time, dropping baskets off an and-one and a two-pointer to make it a 98-89 cushion just when Stephen Holt made it a four-point game at 93-89, 2:47 ticks left.</p><p>And when Malonzo had a last gasp, 98-93, drilling one from the extended arc, Ross found the defensive rebound on RJ Abarrientos&#x27; missed attempt — the one that rattled out, to the dismay of the Ginebra fans inside the Big Dome — and the eventual duty foul from the other side to finally put away the Gin Kings.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/7/6/pba-tenorio-flashes-vintage-form-as-ginebra-forces-game-7-vs-san-miguel-1932"><strong>READ: PBA: Tenorio flashes vintage form as Ginebra forces Game 7 vs. San Miguel</strong></a></div><p>The seasoned point guard capped his prolific showing tonight by clutch freebies, as Scottie Thompson&#x27;s triple attempt went way off in the succeeding play, marking SMB&#x27;s Finals return.</p><p>Fajardo lived up to his billing as the league&#x27;s eight-time MVP, registering a massive double-double of 21 points and 19 rebounds, to go with three assists, two blocks and a steal while powering through a calf injury that also saw him limping earlier in the game.</p><p>Ross, who did not play in Game 6, saved the best for last — at least for this series — by putting up 19 points, seven assists, and four steals.</p><p>CJ Perez had 15 markers, Mo Tautuaa had 14, and Trollano delivered 10, supplementing the SMB offensive cast to reach the 100th-point mark.</p><p>For the other side, Malonzo paced his team with 22 points and four rebounds, while Thompson and Abarrientos had 16 markers each.</p><p>Game 1 of the Finals between San Miguel and TNT is on Sunday, July 13, at the same Cubao venue.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>The Scores:</strong></div><p><strong>SAN MIGUEL 100 </strong> – Fajardo 21, Ross 19, Perez 15, Tautuaa 14, Trollano 10, Tiongson 6, Brondial 6, Lassiter 5, Cruz 4</p><p><strong>GINEBRA 93 </strong>– Malonzo 22, Thompson 16, Abarrientos 16, Rosario 15, Holt 12, J.Aguilar 12, David 0, Ahanmisi 0, Tenorio 0</p><p><strong>QUARTERS:</strong> 17-23, 45-44, 66-73, 100-93</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><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/vdwj6gKkGwg??si=ZOqYga9DGueptDk1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

PBA: San Miguel ousts Ginebra, earns chance to halt TNT's Grand Slam bid

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PBA: San Miguel ousts Ginebra, earns chance to halt TNT's Grand Slam bid

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 09, 2025 09:52 PM PHT

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Updated Jul 10, 2025 01:51 AM PHT

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