SMB escapes Converge late game rally to win Game 1
San Miguel took Game 1 of their best-of-five quarter finals series against Converge FiberXers, 102-95 on Thursday night, September 26, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Beermen new import EJ Asonike, in lieu of the injured Jordan Adams, showed a decent debut performance by producing 28 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists.
"He has this physicality inside, and he grabs boards. He likes to power inside and that's good in getting our shooters open," described by SMB’s coach Jorge Gallent of their new reinforcement.
June Mar Fajardo also delivered well with his double-double production, tallying 25 markers and 16 boards. He also swatted three shots.
"According to coach (Gallent), the Game 1 of the series is important, we need to get it,” said the eight-time MVP in Filipino.
Kris Rosales also contributed well by sizzling hot in the third quarter producing 11 points, while CJ Perez added the same number of points.
SMB started the game well posting a 30-23 lead in the first quarter but Converge fought back in the second canto and even led 50-49 late in the first half, though it was cut short as the Berrmen took the lead again and had a 55-50 halftime advantage.
In the third period, San Miguel played well again and finished the quarter with 85-72 win, and in the final quarter of play, the Beermen erected a 16-point lead - the largest of the game with 3:44 left in the game.
But the FiberXers fought back from the 97-91 disadvantage to make the game close and made it a 99-95 count of JL Delos Santos three-pointer.
Converge even had a chance to tie with a four-point shot, but Delos Santos committed an errant pass to Schonny Winston during one of the final plays of the game.
That was the turning point of the game that gave the 29-time PBA champion team San Miguel the upper hand and recorded a 102-95 victory.
“In the end game, it was just composure,” said Gallent. “We just wanted to close the game really quick. We should have just held the ball a bit longer. We made quite a few mistakes coming into the end that’s why the lead went down.”
Jalen Jones, who tasted his first loss of the season, led the FiberXers with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
The Converge import was complemented by Justin Arana’s 20 markers, Winston’s 17, and King Caralipio‘s 10.
Game 2 of the series will be on Saturday, September 28, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
SAN MIGUEL 102 - Anosike 28, Fajardo 25, Perez 11, Rosales 11, Trollano 6, Cruz 6, Romeo 4, Ross 4, Lassiter 3, Enciso 3, Brondial 1.
CONVERGE 95 - Jones 22, Arana 20, Winston 17, Caralipio 10, Delos Santos 7, Stockton 5, Ambohot 5, Cabagnot 3, Andrade 3, Santos 3, Nieto 0.
QUARTERS : 30-23, 55-50, 85-72, 102-95.
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The East Asia Super League (EASL) is officially set to raise the curtain on its new season with a twin opening in Taipei and Tokyo on October 8, 2025 — a move that reflects the league’s expanding reach and growing stature as Asia’s premier basketball competition.
All eyes in Taiwan will be on the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium, which will host a blockbuster doubleheader featuring some of the region’s most decorated clubs.
The action tips off with a clash between the B.LEAGUE champions Utsunomiya Brex and the P. LEAGUE+ runners-up Taipei Fubon Braves. Utsunomiya, led by veteran guard Makoto Hiejima, entered as one of Japan’s most successful franchises. The Braves, meanwhile, look to prove their resilience after falling short in a grueling seven-game finals series last season, banking on the leadership of Chinese Taipei legend Lin Chih-Chieh.
The second game of the night brings a rematch between the P. LEAGUE+ champions Taoyuan Pauian Pilots and Japan’s Ryukyu Golden Kings. Their last encounter came in the 2025 EASL Final Four semifinals, where Taoyuan stunned Ryukyu, 71–64. This time, the Golden Kings are eager for redemption, while the Pilots hope to reaffirm their place among Asia’s elite.
Game schedule (HKT):
- Utsunomiya vs. Taipei Fubon – 6:30 PM
- Taoyuan vs. Ryukyu – 8:30 PM
China came within a single basket of toppling Oceania powerhouse Australia in the FIBA Asia Cup final, bowing 90-89 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but sending a clear message that it remains a force in Asian basketball.
The Chinese squad, bannered by Hu Mingxuan and Hu Jinqiu, led by as many as 15 points through three quarters before faltering in the final minutes against the defending champions. Despite the heartbreaking loss, the performance was a reminder of China’s proud basketball heritage and its potential return to continental supremacy.
Gilas Pilipinas advanced to the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup quarterfinals after triumphing over host nation Saudi Arabia in a tense 95-88 overtime victory on Monday, August 11 (Tuesday, August 12 in Manila) at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.
Justin Brownlee once again showed his ‘Never Say Die’ attitude after drilling a contested three-pointer with 3.7 seconds left to force the extra period. He went on to finish with 29 points, five assists, and four rebounds, paving the way for a quarterfinal showdown with two-time defending champion Australia on Wednesday, August 13.
Brownlee’s heroics set the stage for Kevin Quiambao, who buried two triples in OT to complete a 17-point performance alongside three dimes and three deflections.
"It was a special game, it was a special performance from both teams," said head coach Tim Cone. "They (Saudi Arabia) posed a lot of problems for us, and by all rights, they had the game won — except for the guy sitting to my right (Brownlee). If you know his history, that’s not unusual. He’s been hitting big shots."
AJ Edu anchored the middle with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists, while Dwight Ramos chipped in 13 markers, 10 boards, three dimes, and a rejection.
Beyond Brownlee’s late-game magic, the Philippines secured the win by neutralizing Saudi Arabia’s high-scoring duo of Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Mohammed Alsuwailem in the extra frame.
Abdur-Rahkman erupted for 33 points on 8-of-14 shooting from deep, while Alsuwailem tallied 26 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocks — but the two combined for only five points in OT as Gilas closed the door on the hosts’ upset bid.
The Scores:
Philippines 95 – Brownlee 29, Edu 17, Quiambao 17, Ramos 13, Fajardo 6, Tamayo 5, Thompson 4, Newsome 4, Malonzo 0, Perez 0, Aguilar 0.
Saudi Arabia 88 – Abdur-Rahkman 33, Alsuwailem 26, Almuwallad 10, Abdel Gabar 8, Ma. Almarwani 4, Belal 3, Kadi 3, Mo. Almarwani 1, Shubayli 0.
Quarters: 25-15, 40-37, 60-59, 79-79 (reg.), 95-88 (OT).