Pacers reach second consecutive Eastern Conference Finals
The Indiana Pacers are headed back to the NBA Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive season after taking down the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, 114-105, on Wednesday, May 14 (PH time) at the Rocket Arena. The Pacers wrapped up the best-of-seven series in five games, 4-1.
Tyrese Haliburton once again proved why he’s the engine of this Indiana squad, delivering another masterful all-around performance. The All-Star guard poured in 31 points, including 6-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc, while also recording six rebounds, eight assists, one steal, and one block. His offensive rhythm and composure were key in guiding the Pacers through Cleveland's defensive pressure.
Indiana also displayed impressive team balance, with all five starters scoring in double figures. Pascal Siakam continued his consistent production with 21 markers, Andrew Nembhard contributed 18, Aaron Nesmith posted a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Myles Turner chipped in 10 points to round out the scoring from the starting unit. The Pacers’ collective effort and unselfish play helped them overcome an early double-digit deficit.
On the other side, Donovan Mitchell did everything he could to try and keep the Cavaliers’ season alive. The All-Star guard finished with 35 points, along with nine rebounds, four steals, an assist, and a block. He was relentless on both ends of the floor, but the lack of consistent help proved costly. Evan Mobley recorded a strong outing with 24 markers and 11 boards, while Darius Garland added 11 points. De’Andre Hunter chipped in 12 off the bench, but the Cavaliers couldn’t generate enough stops or sustain their early momentum.
Cleveland came out strong, dominating the opening quarter and ending it with a 31-19 lead, giving hope for a Game 6. However, Indiana turned the tide in the second and third periods, erupting for 33 points in each frame to take control of the game. By the end of the third quarter, the Pacers held an 85-76 lead. Both teams scored 29 points apiece in the fourth, allowing Indiana to maintain their cushion and seal the deal.
With the win, the Pacers await the winner of the New York Knicks–Boston Celtics series in the East Finals. Game 5 of that matchup is set for tomorrow at 7 AM (PH time), where the Knicks hold a commanding 3-1 lead and will look to close out the series.
Indiana continues to ride a wave of momentum, with their offense clicking at the right time and their core players stepping up under pressure. If they keep this level of play, they’ll be a serious threat to reach the NBA Finals.
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San Miguel Beermen made a statement in Game 4 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals, against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 107-82, on Wednesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena to even the best-of-seven series at 2-2.
CJ Perez spearheaded the charge with a near-complete performance, tallying 19 points, five rebounds, seven assists, a steal, and a block in almost 35 minutes of action. His energy sparked a game-changing 17-0 run in the fourth quarter that broke the game wide open for the Beermen.
Juami Tiongson added 14 points, while June Mar Fajardo turned in another monster game with 12 markers, a game-high 19 boards, three dimes, two deflections, and a rejection.
San Miguel’s well-balanced offense saw five players score in double figures, including Jericho Cruz and Rodney Brondial with 12 apiece, and Don Trollano who chipped in 11.
Game 5 is set for Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with both powerhouse squads looking to seize control of the series and inch closer to a Finals berth.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel bounced back in style, securing a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals series with a 100-90 win over the San Miguel Beermen on Sunday, June 29, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
RJ Abarrientos came up huge with a near triple-double performance—24 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists—leading the Gin Kings back on top after dropping Game 2.
Jamie Malonzo added 20 points with four rebounds and two assists, while Japeth Aguilar chipped in 18 markers alongside seven boards, two dimes, three steals, and two blocks in a vintage two-way showing.
Ginebra also got key contributions from Scottie Thompson and Stephen Holt. Thompson tallied 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block, while Holt recorded 10 points, seven boards, and a deflection.
For San Miguel, Don Trollano kept them in the fight with 22 points and three rebounds. JuneMar Fajardo posted a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, along with three dimes and a block.
CJ Perez and Jericho Cruz added 11 points apiece, while Juami Tiongson rounded out the Beermen’s double-digit scorers with 10.
Ginebra edged SMB 23-20 in the opening quarter, but the Beermen fought back strong in the second to take a 50-46 halftime lead. That momentum didn't last, as Ginebra responded with a commanding 25-14 third period to retake control at 71-64, then sealed the win with a 29-26 finish in the final frame.
“I’m just real proud of the guys for steadying themselves,” said head coach Tim Cone. “We figured a couple of things out. I felt we played with a really good tempo, and then RJ played tremendous down the stretch to keep them at bay.”
Game 4 is set for Wednesday, July 2, at 5:00 PM at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters broke through in their best-of-seven semi-finals series in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup, taking Game 3 in dominant fashion with a 107-86 win over TNT Tropang 5G on Sunday, June 29, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Anton Asistio powered the Elasto Painters with a personal playoff-high 24 points off the bench. He also tallied six assists and a rebound in just under 29 minutes of action, going 7-of-9 from the field, 4-of-5 from three-point range, and 2-of-3 from the four-point arc.
Caelan Tiongson added 16 markers, four rebounds, one assist, and a block, while Keith Datu delivered a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double performance to go with two assists and a rejection.
Leonard Santillan contributed 12 points and eight rebounds, while Andrei Caracut chipped in 10 points, four assists, and four steals, helping Rain or Shine build early momentum and keep control through most of the game.
TNT, on the other hand, struggled without RR Pogoy, Jayson Castro, and Rey Nambatac. Calvin Oftana led the Tropa with 16 points and eight rebounds but registered a -22 plus-minus while shooting just 1-of-6 from deep. Simon Enciso and Glenn Khobuntin added 12 points each.