John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768570458492PBA IMAGES2 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>San Miguel&#x27;s CJ Perez in action. PBA Images</div>MANILA (UPDATED) — All-Filipino defending champion San Miguel caught the last bus ride to the Finals, ousting sister team Barangay Ginebra, 101-88, in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.Waiting for the Beermen in the championship round are the TNT Tropang 5G, who earlier advanced after taking down Meralco in a dramatic ending to the other semifinal series.CJ Perez powered San Miguel&#x27;s Finals aspirations, firing a career-high 41 points (30 in the first quarter on 12-of-12 shooting) to go with three assists.His performance goes down as all-time most points scored by any player, local or import, in an opening quarter of a game; tied for 2nd all-time most in any quarter by any local, with Bong Alvarez’s 30 in fourth; and the only third local player in PBA history to score at least 30 in any quarter and only sixth overall, with imports included, according to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon.Perez&#x27;s stellar start powered San Miguel to a 63-47 halftime lead. While the Gin Kings—known for their &quot;Never Say Die&quot; spirit—tried to return, chipping down the cushion to only five points, 81-76, early in the final frame, Don Trollano made sure Perez&#x27;s outing doesn&#x27;t go for naught, scoring 11 of his 23 in the fourth to quell the Ginebra uprising.Trollano scored nine of the last 18 points of San Miguel, keeping the Gin Kings at bay to clinch the Finals spot.&quot;Talagang very scary moments for us because we&#x27;re leading by as much as 17 points, and all of a sudden naging five points. But because of the rotation namin, especially Don Trollano in the second half, nag-perform siya,&quot; said coach Leo Austria during the postgame press conference, noting Trollano&#x27;s late heroics.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/1/14/pba-san-miguel-spoils-ginebra-comeback-inches-closer-to-finals-return-2247">READ: PBA: San Miguel spoils Ginebra comeback, inches closer to Finals return</a></div>Nine-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo was held to four points, but still lorded over the boards, garnering 18 rebounds and three assists, while Chris Ross and Mo Tautuaa had eight points each.On the other hand, the Gin Kings concluded their all-Filipino campaign, but saw former league MVP Scottie Thompson show up with 24 points and nine rebounds, while Norberto Torres had 13 markers and four rebounds, before going out.<div>The Scores:</div>SAN MIGUEL 101 – Perez 41, Trollano 23, Ross 8, Tautuaa 8, Fajardo 4, Cruz 4, Brondial 4, Tiongson 3, Lassiter 3, Cahilig 3GINEBRA 88 – Thompson 24, Torres 13, Abarrientos 12,J.Aguilar 10 Holt 8, Gray 8, David 5, Rosario 3, Pinto 2, Estil 2, Cu 0, R.Aguilar 0QUARTERS: 39-25, 63-47, 79-71, 101-88

PBA: San Miguel clinches last Finals spot, ousts Ginebra

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PBA: San Miguel clinches last Finals spot, ousts Ginebra

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 16, 2026 09:41 PM PHT

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Updated January 17, 2026 12:16 AM PHT

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basketball

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PBA Philippine Cup

San Miguel Beermen

Barangay Ginebra

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