Robert Bolick’s all-around performance assured the NLEX Road Warriors at least a playoff for a quarterfinals spot in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.

Bolick posted 21 points, eight assists, and five rebounds against Hong Kong Eastern, 94-72, during their Chinese New Year duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

“We thought that we were finished. But the whole team refused to give up,” said Bolick in Filipino, after being one of the heroes of the victory that assured NLEX of getting to fight another day.

The Road Warriors concluded the elimination round with a 6-6 record, assuring themselves of playing at least one game. It was a victory that had consequences for the rest of the field, as it knocked the defending champions San Miguel Beermen out of the playoff race.

However, head coach Jong Uichico stated that he had no intention of eliminating San Miguel and instead remained focused on providing NLEX a chance to advance to the next round, which appeared unlikely given that the Road Warriors had previously suffered five straight losses.

“I’ll always be glad to have a chance to get to the next round. How we get there, come what may,” said Uichico, who has won nine PBA championships as a head coach, including six with the Beermen.

“Two weeks ago, we were on the brink of elimination, but now, we have a chance. So we’ll take this.”

Import Mike Watkins top scored for the Road Warriors, firing a conference-high 41 markers on top of 14 rebounds and two blocks.

Rookies Jonnel Policarpio and Javee Mocon added nine points apiece in the win. 

Based on the outcome of the games of Rain or Shine (6-5) and Magnolia (5-6) on Friday, January 31, at the PhilSports Arena, the Road Warriors can finish as high as seventh and earn a spot in the quarterfinals.

The Scores:

NLEX 94 – Watkins 41, Bolick 21, Mocon 9, Policarpio 9, Herndon 6, Torres 5, Ramirez 3, Alas 0, Semerad 0.

EASTERN 76 – McLaughlin 18, Blankley 14, Yang 12, Lam 11, Cao 5, Cheung 5, Chan 4, Guinchard 3, Pok 2, Leung 2.

Quarter Scores: 18-23, 43-42, 65-57, 94-76.

A day after suffering a setback and nightmarish 97-115 loss to TNT Tropang Giga that pushed San Miguel Beermen to their seventh loss in 12 matches.

The SMB is now on the verge of elimination in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup last Sunday, January 26 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Now their wait has just begun for them, and the elimination round assignment is over and done, the defending PBA Commissioner's Cup champion will now watch and see with keen interest the last two playing dates from the sidelines and see how things turn out for their campaign.

With that, the Beermen have to pray and hope that NLEX and Magnolia drop their remaining games against Hong Kong Eastern on Wednesday and Meralco on Friday, respectively, to catch the last trip headed for the quarterfinals.

After all, both the Road Warriors and the Hotshots sit at the eighth spot with identical 5-6 win-loss records.

A loss by both teams will give the Beermen a chance to contend for the No. 8 spot against the Road Warriors.

"We're going to see what happens. There's a chance, but it might be slim. But still, there's a chance. We'll see how those results play," said veteran gunner Marcio Lassiter. "

The Beermen’s campaign in the midseason of this tournament had been very shaky.

According to Lasiter, there's definitely a lesson learned in this shaky and struggling campaign of their team.

"It's been an up and down conference. But you know, we can't dwell on it too long. We still have to figure out in the hunt for the last spot and see how the games go along," he added.

Meanwhile, the last time that San Miguel failed to advance in the playoffs came in the 2015 Commissioner's Cup.

Prior to the start of the season, they figured in a blockbuster trade, sending veterans Terrence Romeo and Vic Manuel to Terrafirma in exchange for Juami Tiongson and Andreas Cahilig.

Victor Law led the Ryukyu Golden Kings in securing the B1 seed in the East Asia Super League (EASL) 2024-25 season after beating the Meralco Bolts, 89-71, on Wednesday night, January 22, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

Law had a game-high 20 points in spearheading Ryukyu to victory. He also tallied eight rebounds, five assists, and two deflections in 34 minutes of play.

The Ryukyu team captain shot 5-of-8 from the two-point area, 2-of-6 from rainbow country, and a perfect 4-of-4 from the stripe. He also had the highest efficiency of the game with 25.

Golden Kings import Alex Kirk also had an efficiency of 25, and finished the game with 19 markers, eight boards, one assists, and a block.

Their other import, Keve Aluma was also instrumental to the game as he produced 18 points, eight coming from the third when they had a 19-point lead, the highest of the game.

Two more players scored in double-digits for Ryukyu -- Yoshiyuki Matsuwaki and Ryuichi Kishimoto scored 12 points apiece.

Kishomoto and Golden Kings head coach Dai Oketani attended the post-game interview to tell their thoughts about the game.

The B.League guard said that it was his first time to visit and play in the Philippines and he was very appreciative of the experience.

Same goes with coach Oketani who acknowledged the Philippine brand of basketball specially Chris Newsome, whom he said was a very tough opponent in their part.

The Meralco team captain responded that he was humbled with the compliment and it just means that he's playing basketball the right way.

Newsome produced 12 points, five assists, one steal, and a block to pace the Bolts, while Cliff Hodge and Ange Kouame put up 13 markers each.

Meralco's import David Kennedy only scored three points on 1-of-8 shooting, while their other import Akil Mitchell suited up but did not play as he had a hurting back.

The Bolts still have one game remaining on February 12 in Taiwan against the New Taipei Kings. They need to win that match for them to enter the Final Four.

Barangay Ginebra leaned on Scottie Thompson’s near-triple double output to eke out a masterful 120-92 victory against Rain or Shine in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday, January 22, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Thompson poured 22 points on top of six rebounds and eight assists, helping the Gin Kings improve to 7-4 and moving up to sixth place with one game left in the elimination stage.

Cone highlighted Thompson's tip in off Justin Brownlee's muffed triple early in the fourth frame, impressing the audience at the stadium.

“Scottie was everywhere tonight. Absolutely everywhere,” Cone said. 

“It looked like there were two or three Scotties out there, not just one… You couldn’t tell where he was,” the veteran mentor added.

According to the former league MVP, the team was just playing with urgency. After all, Ginebra is aiming for a higher seeding in the quarterfinals, and this is the final stretch of the elimination round.

"Coming to this game we really need a sense of urgency. Starting now is our playoff game," he said.

"Every game is crucial for us. We know the standings in detail. We want a good spot in the playoffs."

As usual, Ginebra reinforcement Justin Brownlee led the charge for the Gin Kings,  delivering a double-double output of 29 markers alongside 13 boards, six dimes, one deflection, and one rejection, while Troy Rosario and RJ Abarrientos tallied 14 points apiece.

The Gin Kings will conclude their elimination round assignment when they face the Meralco Bolts on January 29 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

The Scores:

BARANGAY GINEBRA 120 – Brownlee 29, Thompson 22, Rosario 14, Abarrientos 14, J.Aguilar 12, Malonzo 9, Holt 8, R.Aguilar 4, Mariano 3, Pessumal 3, Ahanmisi 2, Pinto 0, Adamos 0, Cu 0.

RAIN OR SHINE 92 – D. Thompson 23, Asistio 14, Nocum 13, Clarito 12, Tiongson 7, Belga 7, Caracut 6, Malonzo 4, Lemetti 3, Demusis 2, Santillan 1, Norwood 0, Datu 0.

Quarter Scores : 30-23, 66-45, 91-72, 120-92.

Mark Nonoy displayed potential with an exceptional outing as Terrafirma took down the TNT Tropang Giga, 117-108, to conclude its PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup campaign on Wednesday, January 22, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Nonoy fired a season-high 33 points, including two four-pointers bridging the third and fourth quarters. He also tallied four rebounds, four assists, and a steal that allowed the Terrafirma to chalk up a win and avoid an empty-handed exit.

The 24-year-old La Salle product was all smiles as he was able to share the floor with one of his childhood heroes. Motivated by his encounter with Jayson Castro, the left-handed guard made 5 of 6 three-pointers and 10 of 13 field goals. 

"I was inspired by Kuya Jayson because it was our first time playing against each other. Since my childhood, I've been watching him," said Nonoy. 

“He is one of the PBA players I’m inspired by. I was confident because I wanted to challenge him,” he added.

Import Brandon Edwards backstopped Nonoy’s efforts with 19 markers, 12 boards, and six dimes, Louie Sangalang contributed 16 points and four rebounds, while Aljun Melecio supplied 10 markers. 

On the other hand, disappointment was evident in TNT reinforcement Rondae Hollis-Jefferson as he made his way to the dugout with a few seconds remaining in the game.

RHJ finished with a game-high 41 points, scattering 10 rebounds, three assists, three steals, and four blocks on the stat sheets, but his all-around effort went down the drain as TNT slid to 6-3 for fifth place.

Calvin Oftana led the local crew with 17 markers, while Rey Nambatac and Castro delivered 12 and 11 points, respectively, in the loss. 

The Scores:

TERRAFIRMA 117 – Nonoy 33, Edwards 19, Sangalang 16, Carino 10, Melecio 10, Ferrer 9, Pringle 8, Manuel 6, Hernandez 4, Catapusan 2, Hanapi 0.

TNT 108 – Hollis-Jefferson 41, Oftana 17, Nambatac 12, Castro 11, Pogoy 9, Galinato 5, Erram 5, Razon 4, Khobuntin 2, Aurin 2, Payawal 0, Williams 0, Varilla 0.

Quarter Scores: 25-28, 61-50, 99-70, 117-108.

NorthPort Batang Pier overcame the fightback of San Miguel Beermen to get the 105-104 victory on Tuesday night, January 21, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

With the win, NorthPort got back in good position to get a twice-to-beat incentive going into the playoffs of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup.

The Batang Pier blew away a big 24-point lead in the third quarter before Kadeem Jack delivered clutch baskets in the end.

Jack finished with 38 points to lead his team to an 8-3 record in the team standings.

Coach Bonnie Tan's crew will take a three-day rest before closing the elimination round of Saturday, January 25, at the same venue and target a 9-3 mark to be assured of the incentive.

Arvin Tolentino was named Player of the Game as he delivered 22 points to lead the local crew, while Will Navarro and Joshua Munzon added 17 and 12, respectively.

Meanwhile, with back-to-back losses with new import Malik Pope who only produced four points and was benched by Coach Leo Austria the entire fourth period, the Beermen yielded solo eighth spot, falling in a logjam with the Magnolia Hotshots and the NLEX Road Warriors at 4-6.

San Miguel has Converge and TNT as final assignments, while Magnolia has Eastern and Meralco to close out its elimination stint and NLEX has Rain or Shine and Eastern as the last two games.

The PSP Lady Gymers, who's coached by Terrence Romeo, were narrowly defeated by the Imus Sis-VBL Lady Magdalo in the second game of the opening day of the inaugural Women's Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) on Sunday, January 19, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.

Imus took the 73-70 victory over PSP despite losing head coach Alex De Los Santos as he was ejected from the game - the first in league's history.

Katherin Cantimbuhan led Imus with 17 points and three assists, while Annie Grace Pamaran poured 16 markers and Nikka Villanueva added 15.

On the other hand, Jeedel Bartolo finished a game-high 18 markers banking on four three-pointers to pace the Lady Gymers, who also have Vic Manuel, CJ Perez, and Arvin Tolentino on the sidelines as assistant coaches.

Justine Baltazar stepped up for Converge as his team eked out a 127-109 victory over Blackwater Bossing in the 2024-25 PBA Commissioner's Cup last night, January 19, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Converge’s prized ward posted a double-double output of 20 points and 10 rebounds, along with two assists, three steals, and two blocks to earn him Best Player of the Game honors.

"I was given a chance to play, so I just gave it my best," Baltazar said during the postgame interview. "No matter who we are against, we will not just relax."

Despite the FiberXers losing Justin Arana in the closing seconds of the third quarter due to a hyperextended left knee, Baltazar exhibited what he is capable of in a solid effort to assist the FiberXers in this win.

Jordan Heading paced Converge, firing 22 markers, while import Cheick Diallo added a double-double of 20 points and 18 rebounds, and Alec Stockton supplied the FiberXers with 19 points to notch solo second in the team standings.

The Bossing finished with a 2-8 record after George King poured a game-high 34 points, including four 4-pointers, while Frederick Tungcab contributed 20 points.

With one game remaining, Converge, currently the second-best team behind TNT, may secure the twice-to-beat bonus against San Miguel on Friday, January 24.

Meanwhile, the Blackwater Bossing will try to finish the conference on a high note when they conclude their last two games against Phoenix and NorthPort.

The Scores:

CONVERGE 127 – Heading 22, Baltazar 20, Diallo 20, Stockton 19, Delos Santos 10, Winston 10, Santos 8, Nieto 8, Arana 7, Racal 3, Caralipio 0, Andrade 0.

BLACKWATER 109 – King 34, Tungcab 20, Chua 16, David 14, Kwekuteye 10, Casio 6, Corteza 4, Ponferrada 3, Guinto 2, Montalbo 0, Ayonayon 0, Jopia 0.

Quarter Scores: 33-26, 70-56, 97-88, 127-109.

In their first encounter in the 2024-25 East Asia Super League (EASL), the Meralco Bolts suffered their first defeat at the hands of the Japan B.League's Ryukyu Golden Kings. 

With their second match-up coming up on Wednesday, January 22, at the Philsports Arena, the two squads will have something to defend and fight for.

The Bolts will seek to bounce back from their setback in the previous match as a push to clinch another win and improve their chance of entering the semifinals, while the Golden Kings will aim to keep their crown secure, with them now conquering the standings of Group B with a 4-1 win-loss record which also assured them of a playoff berth.

Hong Kong Eastern completed a three-game sweep of listless San Miguel Beermen, 84-74, to maintain their hopes of making it to the Final Four in the East Asian Super League (EASL) Home and Away Season 2 on Wednesday night, January 15, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

Import Cameron Clark finally had the chance to play against his former team after missing HKE’s first two games against San Miguel.

The 33-year-old forward led Eastern past the Beermen with an impressive performance that included 25 points on 10-of-19 shooting from the field, eight rebounds, and six assists.

“I definitely had this on my mind for a while. Not playing the first two games, it really killed me but I feel like we got our revenge. It was a great team win,” Clark said during the post-game press conference.

“It was a pleasure playing against those guys. Great teammates, great organization, but we had to get the dub,” he added.

Clark played for the Beermen in the PBA Season 47 Governors' Cup and the 2023 EASL Champions Week, where SMB finished 0-2.

Backstopping Clark’s efforts was Chris McLaughlin, who had a fantastic game for Eastern, posting 15 markers and pulling down 18 boards, while Glen Yang and Hayden Blankley each contributed 11 points  to the victory.

Don Trollano and June Mar Fajardo led the Beermen with 20 points apiece in the defeat, leaving SMB without a victory in the EASL.

Eastern will play the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots on February 5 in an attempt to guarantee a semifinal berth.

Meralco made a statement after beating the league-leading NorthPort Batang Pier, 111-94, in the continuation of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Tuesday night, January 14, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Akil Mitchell and Chris Banchero led the way for the Bolts as they got their sixth win in nine games to improve their conference record.

Mitchell tallied 30 points and 13 rebounds to power Meralco to victory, while Banchero had 25 markers, four boards, and one steal to pace the local unit.

“It was a very important game for us. I was really excited to play NorthPort tonight because They were playing the best in this conference, so we really wanted to see where we were as a team and I thought we responded well tonight,” said Banchero.

Bolts head coach Luigi Trillo acknowledged the better defense that their team showed.

“We played better defense as a team. We know this team can score the ball. They got guys like (Joshua) Munzon, (Arvin) Tolentino, (William) Navarro, their import also a perfect fit for them.  Their import is also a perfect fit for them. I thought our bench, all around, coming out... even our bigs, Norbert (Torres), Kyle (Pascual), Raymond (Almazan) helping Brandon (Bates). Quality from them coming in," said Trillo.

On the other hand, Kadeem Jack led the Batang Pier with 29 points, while Arvin Tolentino added 19 markers. Joshua Munzon and William Navarro also scored in double digits with 12 and 11, respectively.

CJ Perez put up 23 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, and four steals to lead the San Miguel Beermen get back on the winning track as they beat the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, 85-78, on Sunday night, January 12, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The crucial win ended a two-game slump for San Miguel as they stayed in the hunt for a playoff spot in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup and still have a chance to defend the title that they got last season.

Perez was backed-up by Beermen’s import Jabari Narcis, who tallied 18 markers and grabbed 23 boards, while eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo had 13 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists.

The other two starters, Juami Tiongson and Marcio Lassiter added 13 and 8, respectively, to help SMB improve to 4-4, ahead of NLEX and Phoenix, who both have 3-5 win-loss records.

Jericho Cruz sparked San Miguel’s bench with 10 markers, highlighted by a rare five-point play and a crucial steal in the end game.

"We considered this game as most crucial for us as Magnolia is one our rivals for the Top 8. A loss will slide us to the Bottom 5 but a win will get us to the Top 8," said Beermen head coach Leo Austria.

"This win will be a good morale booster for us, giving us more confidence going to our next game against Meralco (on Saturday in Candon)," he added.

On the other hand, Magnolia fell down to 3-6 in team standings and is now on the brink of being eliminated from playoff contention.

Ricardo Ratliffe paced the Hotshots in the losing cause with 24 points and 15 rebounds, while Mark Barroca added 13 markers and six dimes, in a night where he hit a milestone of playing his 600th consecutive game in the pro league.

Magnolia will be back in action on Thursday, January 16, against the Phoenix Fuel Masters at the Philsports Arena, while San Miguel will face the Meralco Bolts on Saturday, January 18, at the Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur.

Barangay Ginebra registered its sixth win at the expense of Blackwater Bossing, 86-63, as RJ Abarrientos's effort was crucial to the team's resounding victory on Sunday night, January 12, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. 

Abarrientos' outstanding play in the third quarter helped the Gin Kings win their sixth straight game to improve their record in the team standings to 6-3, joining Converge and guest team, Hong Kong.

The prized rookie of Ginebra poured out 15 points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal, backstopping the effort of import Justin Brownlee, who scored a team-high 18 markers along with seven boards, four dimes, a deflection, and a rejection. 

“Our motivation was our struggles from before. For us to get to the playoffs, it has to start now … This game against Blackwater is a stepping stone for us,” said Abarrientos, earning Best Player of the Game honors. 

Meanwhile, the Gin Kings’ triumph was also highlighted with Jamie Alonzo returning to the hardcourt, playing his first game back since April of last year after he was laid off due to an injury to the calf.

“For Jamie, it’s been a long, long road for him. We’ve watched him from the side and seen the work he’s done. So it’s just a culmination of the hard work of getting back into the lineup,” praised coach Tim Cone of the 6-foot-7 athletic wingman after delivering eight points and three boards despite having a restricted time off the bench to just 10 minutes.

Blackwater reinforcement George King scored a game-high 27 markers and six rebounds in the losing cause, while Jaydee Tungcab led the locals with 10.

After their run was cut short by league-leading NorthPort earlier last week, the crowd darlings will play TNT on Friday, January 17, at Philsports Arena in an attempt to complete another back-to-back.

The former UP Fighting Maroons' point guard arrived in South Korea yesterday, January 9. 

In Instagram stories, the Suwon KT Sonicboom team picked him up in Incheon International airport, and it was the team's way of welcoming the UP pride who entered South Korea.

And now, Cagulangan is set for his Korean Basketball League debut this Saturday, January 11, as Sonicboom faces Gutang and the Seoul Samsung Thunder. He also looks to make a mark in South Korea and continue his basketball journey on the international stage.

Cagulangan will be joining other Filipino talents in KBL, including Carl Tamayo, Justin Gutang, Migs Oczon, and SJ Belangel.

He led the UP Fighting Maroons to the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball title and also ended his UP career as UAAP season 87 Most Valuable Player (MVP).

In his final game with the Maroons, he registered 12 points, two rebounds, four assists, and three steals, leaving a lasting impression as one of the league's most reliable floor generals.

Cagulangan’s performance in the UAAP Finals was nothing short of stellar, recording averages of 13.67 points, 4.33 rebounds, 4.67 assists, 1.33 steals, and 0.67 blocks in the championship series.

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters extended their win streak at the expense of Blackwater Bossing, 122-106, in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Wednesday, January 8.

With the efforts of import Deon Thompson, Adrian Nocum, and Santi Santillan, the Elasto Painters ensured that Blackwater would not repeat the same scenario where George King and the Bossing wiped them out during last year’s Governor’s Cup.

Nocum's consistency paid off as he poured IN 22 points, pulled down five rebounds, and three steals to help the Elasto Painters some sense of revenge on their tormentors from the previous conference.

“For me, I just stick to whatever my coaches tell me regarding our game plan. Even coach [Yeng Guiao] said that we played well in that game but our opponents just played a lot better,” said Nocum during the postgame interview.

“Every approach I have is the same [from then ’til now]. I just stick to my coaches’ plans,” he added.

Rain or Shine jumped off to a 39-16 lead, faltered in the second frame, and then picked up steam in the second half where Nocum had a field day, highlighted by an acrobatic layup in the fourth quarter.

Thompson churned out 25 points for the Elasto Painters on top of 16 boards, four dimes, and a rejection, while Santillan registered 20.

Anton Asistio had a total of 18 points after helping the team create an early lead in the first quarter with a nine-point performance.

Rain or Shine’s record improved to 5-1, and they will aim to build on this win when they face the Phoenix Fuel Masters on Saturday, January 11. 

The Scores:

RAIN OR SHINE 122 – Thompson 25, Nocum 22, Santillan 20, Asistio 18, Tiongson 11, Clarito 9, Demusis 8, Caracut 6, Ildefonso 1, Belga 0, Norwood 0, Lemetti 0, Escandor 0

BLACKWATER 106 – King 35, Ayonayon 11, David 10, Chua 10, Escoto 9, Ponferrada 6, Suerte 6, Kwekuteye 5, Jopia 5, Hill 4, Casio 3, Corteza 2, Guinto 0

Quarter Scores: 39-25, 56-47, 94-79, 122-106

The Hiroshima Dragonflies dominated San Miguel Beermen, 94-63, to earn a Final Four ticket on Wednesday night, January 8, at the Hiroshima Sun Plaza, Japan.

Hiroshima's win also eliminated the winless SMB (0-4) out of contention in the next round.

The Dragonflies were led by the almost triple-double performance of Kerry Blackshear Jr., who produced 12 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists, and three steals.

Nick Mayo and Keijiro Mitani both put up 18 markers to lead the Japanese team in scoring. Mayo also grabbed eight rebounds and issued two dimes, while Mitani stole the ball thrice.

On the other hand, San Miguel import Torren Jones paced the team with 24 points and 13 rebounds, while June Mar Fajardo added 12 markers and nine boards.

EASL Final Four 2025, set for March 7-9, will award a $1 million prize to the champion, $500,000 to the runner-up, and $250,000 for third place.

The scores:

HIROSHIMA 94 – Mayo 18, Mitani 18, Blackshear 12, Nakamura 11, Yamazaki 11, Watanabe 9, Kawata 7, Roberts 5, Ichikawa 3, Kamisawa 0, Takeuchi 0.

SAN MIGUEL 63 – Jones 24, Fajardo 12, Tiongson 9, Lassiter 4, Tautuaa 4, Ross 3, Perez 3, Teng 2, Cruz 2, Cahilig 0.

Quarter Scores: 30-18; 52-37; 68-51; 94-63.

Northport finally snapped a 14-game losing streak after a nail-biting 119-116 win over Ginebra with Joshua Munzon playing a huge role in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday night, January 8, at the Philsports Arena.

“It’s a statement win for us,” declared Batang Pier head coach Bonnie Tan, whose team maintained its lead in the rankings with its impressive 7-1 win-loss record.

Despite Northport's explosive 5-0 conference debut, there were questions regarding the team's legitimacy. Tan hopes that his Batang Pier's thrilling victory over the Gin Kings will ultimately diminish doubts.

"Everyone's questioning the status of the team, that we are not winning against the big teams. I hope with this win, we proved that we're here to win games," said Tan. "We're here to be competitive. We are not just here to participate."

In front of a hostile crowd in Pasig, the team’s success was centered on the formidable trio of import Kadeem Jack and local aces Arvin Tolentino and Munzon, with the latter assuming the role of main protagonist for the Batang Pier in one of their greatest victories in franchise history against the crowd darlings.

Munzon scattered 27 points on the stat sheets, along with two rebounds, six assists, two steals, and one block, hailing him the Best Player of the Game.

“Going into the break, we knew that we will play a tough team in Ginebra, one of the better teams in the league. We’ve been preparing for them pretty much the whole break and all our hard work paid off tonight,” said Munzon.

“We were able to stick to the game plan and we made it happen,” he added.

Munzon’s efforts proved to be sufficient for the team as Tolentino, who finished with 29 markers and five boards prior to his exit, was fouled out in the closing seconds of the game.

Jack top scored for the Batang Pier, finishing with a game-high 39 points on top of 16 rebounds, three assists, and a steal.

Munzon and the Batang Pier have a chance to convert more skeptics into believers when they face another league contender in Meralco on Tuesday, January 14, at Ninoy Aquino Stadium. 

The Scores:

NorthPort 119 – Jack 32, Tolentino 29, Munzon 27, Flores 9, Navarro 8, Bulanadi 5, Onwubere 4, Cuntapay 3, Yu 2, Nelle 0, Jalalon 0.

Ginebra 116 – Brownlee 23, Thompson 17, Rosario 17, Abarrientos 17, Ahanmisi 12, Holt 11, Cu 9, J.Aguilar 8, Tenorio 2.

Quarter Scores: 31-27, 67-58, 98-87, 119-116.

Import Donovan Smith powered the Phoenix Fuel Masters as they registered their second win over Terrafirma, 122-108, in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Tuesday, January 7, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

Smith spearheaded the scoring column of Phoenix after unloading a game-high 37 points on top of seven rebounds, five blocks, and three assists, spoiling the comeback attempt of the hapless Dyip.

“This is a new year and it's a fresh start,” Smith said during the post-game press conference.

“We can't worry about the last six games that already passed because it's in the past, so now we just have to focus on the next games coming ahead and just put our best foot forward and continue to build on this win that we have today,” he added.

Smith, however, made sure to give his teammates credit for their defensive efforts in addition to their scoring contributions as well as how their enhanced communication both on and off the court fueled them to climb up to 2-5 in the team standings.

“I was a lot more vocal on both ends of the floor, so I think that's what really contributed to us winning. Just holding guys accountable and having guys hold me accountable as well on both sides of the floor,” said Smith. “I feel like that's the biggest reason why we won today because we played together for 48 minutes.”

In addition to Smith’s valiant efforts, Jason Perkins tallied 16 markers, including 10 in the fourth period, helping the Fuel Masters overcome an 84-88 deficit. 

Ricci Rivero registered 14 points and five assists, with 10 of his points delivered in the closing minutes.

With 10:49 remaining, Perkins and Rivero led a crucial rally that put Phoenix ahead 93-86. The Fuel Masters continued to dominate until the final buzzer thanks to Smith's pivotal defensive plays to close out the game.

Terrafirma import Brandon Walton-Edwards had a double-double of 25 markers and 10 boards, while Louie Sangalang chipped in 22 in the loss.

Kenmark Carino returned to the Dyip with 11 points and seven rebounds after battling a knee injury to begin the conference.

The Scores:

PHOENIX 122 – Smith 37, Perkins 16, Rivero 14, Tio 10, Ballungay 10, Tuffin 8, Muyang 7, Jazul 4, Alejandro 4, Manganti 3, Daves 3, Garcia 2, Salado 2, Verano 2, Ular 0

TERRAFIRMA 108 – Walton-Edwards 25, Sangalang 22, Paraiso 16, Nonoy 12, Carino 11, Hernandez 7, Manuel 6, Melecio 5, Pringle 2, Ramos 2, Catapusan 0

Quarter Scores: 29-36, 60-49, 88-84, 122-108

Calvin Oftana helped the TNT Tropang Giga defeat the Meralco Bolts, 101-99, in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Tuesday, January 7, at the Philsports Arena. 

Oftana matched Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s output by posting 24 points, hitting 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, while adding four rebounds and two assists, earning him Player of the Game honors. 

"Those breaks, we don't take it as a break. We are also conditioning ourselves since the conference is still ongoing. That's our job and we're happy that we won today because it's our first game and our minds are still very much on the cloud. At least now, December is over," Oftana said during the post-game press conference.

TNT head coach Chot Reyes praised the team’s flexibility, especially in the second half as Meralco tightened their defense against Oftana. 

"In the second half, they [Meralco] never left Calvin. That's why we needed Roger [Pogoy] to step up and Jayson [Castro] hit that big three," said Reyes.

"That's how our game is, we empower our players to make plays and the key really is their selflessness and their awareness. They just have to be aware of what the situation is and then they have to be very willing," he added.

Meralco rallied to tie the game 99-all in the closing seconds after TNT, fresh off a 19-day break, took a commanding 23-point advantage early on. 

The two teams kept trading baskets until Cliff Hodge fouled Hollis-Jefferson. RHJ’s free throws with ten seconds remaining in the game gave the Tropang Giga the victory.

In a solid all-around performance, the TNT’s super import finished with 24 markers, 13 boards, and five dimes, with Rey Nambatac contributing 15 points in the win.

Import Akil Mitchell topped Meralco’s scoring column with 24 markers, 18 rebounds, and seven assists, while Chris Newsome chipped in 19 points and eight dimes in the losing cause.

TNT is set to battle Converge on Saturday, January 11, while Meralco will try to claw back when they go against NLEX on Friday, January 10.

The Scores:

TNT 101 – Hollis-Jefferson 24, Oftana 24, Nambatac 15, Pogoy 12, Castro 7, Erram 6, Galinato 5, Aurin 5, Khobuntin 3, Razon 0, Varilla 0.

MERALCO 99 – Mitchell 24, Newsome 19, Banchero 14, Quinto 12, Black 8, Hodge 6, Rios 5, Bates 4, Almazan 4, Cansino 3, Caram 0.

Quarter Scores: 27-17, 52-35, 79-68, 101-99.

Barangay Ginebra emerged victorious as they eked out a 95-92 win against the Magnolia Hotshots in their Christmas Clasico duel in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday, December 25, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Scottie Thompson spearheaded the thrilling victory after firing a game-winning triple at the left corner as the fourth quarter buzzer sounded to complete the Gin Kings’ 22-point comeback, improving their record to 4-2.

RJ Abarrientos was named Player of the Game, finishing with 20 points and five assists. His valiant efforts helped the team escape its deep rut and cleared the path for Thompson. 

“They were designed for RJ to make a decision,” coach Tim Cone said of the final moments of the contest. “We put the game in RJ’s hands and he delivered with a great pass to Scottie.”

Ginebra cut its deficit in half to 67-78 as Abarrientos scored three consecutive three-pointers to conclude the third period. Then, in the decider round, Abarrientos sank eight more points before setting up Thompson for the shot that sent more than 12,000 fans into a frenzy.

It was also a noteworthy night for Thompson as he became the 32nd player in the league to reach the historic milestone of 2,000 assists.

Import Justin Brownlee registered a game-high 28 points to go along with seven rebounds and five assists, while Thompson posted 14 markers, five boards and six dimes. 

The Hotshots, on the other hand, dropped to 2-5 slate.

Magnolia Import Ricardo Ratliffe led the Hotshots with 17 points, 16 rebounds, and four assists. Mark Barroca tallied 13, while Paul Lee and Ian Sangalang chipped in 11 apiece.

The Scores:

GINEBRA 95 – Brownlee 28, Abarrientos 20, Rosario 15, Thompson 14, J.Aguilar 8, Holt 5, M. Ahanmisi 5, Tenorio 0, Cu 0, Mariano 0.

MAGNOLIA 92 – Ratliffe 17, Barroca 13, Lee 11, Sangalang 11, Lucero 8, Balanza 8, Dela Rosa 7, Dionisio 6, Lastimosa 6, Abueva 5, J. Ahanmisi 0.

Quarter Scores: 24-30, 41-55, 67-78, 95-92.

Jordan Heading exhibited an all-around performance to power Converge past Meralco, 110-94, in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday, December 25, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Heading tallied a 30-game output for the FiberXers, along with five rebounds, and eight assists as they notched their fourth straight win in their first-ever Christmas Day appearance.

“I try to approach this game like I approach every game, which is part of being a professional: You have a routine and you try to stick to your routine every single game. Obviously, there’s a little excitement but I’m used to it for as long as I can remember,” the Filipino-Australian playmaker said as Converge rose to 6-2 in the midseason conference.

The FiberXers had a 20-point advantage, 94-74, with less than eight minutes left in the fourth period before the Bolts edged closer, 102-88, at the 2:57 mark.

However, charities from Heading and a basket from import Cheick Diallo further increased the gap, while Justin Arana's consecutive baskets with less than two minutes remaining ultimately secured the win.

The victory was more meaningful to head coach Franco Atienza due to the fact that the FiberXers upset a club of championship caliber like the Bolts.

“This is a championship-caliber team and they are plagued with injuries,” said Atienza. “Maybe we were lucky they were not in their best form, although they really competed now.” 

“We were just lucky that we got Meralco when they were not super 100 percent. Not taking anything away from them, but we believe they are a far better team,” he concluded.

Diallo backstopped Heading’s efforts by producing 24 markers and 18 boards, while top draft pick Justine Baltazar netted his season high, delivering 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and a steal.

Meanwhile, returning import Akil Mitchell posted 29 markers and 18 boards as Meralco suffered its second straight loss after winning its first three games.

Bong Quinto and Cliff Hodge had 23 and 10, respectively, while Chris Newsome was only limited to nine points and five rebounds. 

The Scores:

CONVERGE 110 – Heading 30, Diallo 24, Baltazar 16, Winston 11, Stockton 10, Arana 7, Andrada 5, Racal 3, Delos Santos 2, Santos 2, Fornillos 0, Nieto 0, Ambohot 0, Caralipio 0, Javillonar 0.

MERALCO 94 – Mitchell 29, Quinto 23, Hodge 10, Newsome 9, Banchero 6, Maliksi 5, Reyson 3, Pascual 3, Black 2, Rios 2, Caram 2, Torres 0.

Quarter Scores: 26-20, 58-41, 85-66, 110-94.

Jayson Castro scored 16 points and made an immediate impact in his first game of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup.

Castro added three steals and two assists in his return to help TNT Tropang Giga get the 109-93 victory over the Blackwater Bossing on Thursday night, December 19, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The nine-time PBA champion missed TNT's first three games due to hamstring issues.

TNT's all-around import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson supported Castro with his 22 points, nine rebounds, five dimes, five deflections, and a block.

Four more Tropang Giga scored in double digits to get their second straight victory of the tourney. Rey Nambatac contributed 19, Calvin Oftana provided 18, RR Pogoy put up 12, and Glenn Khobuntin added 10.

Meanwhile, Blackwater high-scoring import George King, who averaged 39 points per game, was only limited to a conference-low 28 markers on 10-of-22.

The Bossing also don't have their prized rookie Sedrick Barefield due to injury.

With King being handcuffed and Barefield not in the lineup, RK Ilagan stepped up and poured out 19 points highlighted by 3-of-3 shooting from the arc.

The game was the last of the year for both teams.

TNT will be back in action on January 7 against Meralco Bolts, while Blackwater will come back on January 8 to face Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

Sweet-shooting guard Jordan Heading and import Cheick Diallo poured out 21 points each to lead Converge in their victory over the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 116-105, on Thursday night, December 19, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The win marked the first time that the FiberXers won back-to-back games in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup and improved their record to 4-2.

Besides Heading and Diallo, four more Converge players scored in double digits. Schonny Winston and Bryan Santos contributed 16 apiece, while Alec Stockton and BJ Andrade added 14 and 11, respectively.

Their twin towers, ace center Justin Arana and top pick rookie Justine Baltazar both came out with six markers.

"We give credit to our guys," said FiberXers acting head coach Franco Atienza, who admitted that he was anxious when Phoenix made a good start that led to a 20-2 lead.

"We just stuck on, we didn't panic. We returned to how we want to run our system, how to run our offense, our defense," Atienza added.

Converge will have a chance to extend their win streak when they face Barangay Ginebra on Saturday, December 21, in Batangas City, and against Meralco Bolts on Christmas day at the Big Dome.

Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell led Phoenix with 30 points and 18 rebounds. He was supported by RJ Jazul's 20, Tyler Tio's 13, and Ricci Rivero's 11. 

The Fuel Masters now have a 1-5 win-loss record after dropping their final game of the year.

The Scores:

CONVERGE 116 - Heading 21, Diallo 21, Winston 16, Santos 16, Stockton 14, Andrade 11, Arana 6, Baltazar 6, Racal 5, Delos Santos 0, Caralipio 0.

PHOENIX 105 - Smith 30, Jazul 20, Tio 13, Perkins 12, Rivero 11, Tuffin 8, Verano 4, Garcia 3, Soyud 2, Manganti 2, Salado 0, Alejandro 0, Muyang 0, Ular 0, Daves 0.

Quarter Scores: 15-30, 48-54, 87-80, 116-105.

San Miguel failed to earn its breakthrough win in the 2024-25 East Asia Super League (EASL) after bowing to Hong Kong Eastern, 62-71, at Southorn Stadium in Hong Kong, on Wednesday, December 18.

Kobey Lam spearheaded the pivotal comeback, registering 19 points, which gave the Hong Kong squad its first victory in the EASL game. 

Notwithstanding the efforts of June Mar Fajardo and recently signed import Torren Jones for San Miguel, Eastern maintained their lead.

After a difficult turn-around shot by Fajardo, the Beermen were able to cut the margin to just two points at 58-60 in the fourth quarter.

However, just when it appeared that San Miguel had the advantage, Lam blazed through when he scored five of Eastern’s 9-0 run.

Lam also posted three rebounds and one assist for the Hong Kong-based squad, with Chris McLaughlin tallying a double-double of 16 markers and 17 boards, while Glenn Yang contributed 11 for the home team. 

Fajardo and Jones led the charge for the Beermen with 19 points each, but their efforts were for naught as they failed to keep the team from suffering a third straight loss and dropping to the bottom of Group A.

The loss was the first in three games for Leo Austria since taking over as coach last week in place of Jorge Gallent.

San Miguel will aim to finally grab their first win in the EASL as they face the Hiroshima Dragonflies on January 8 at the Hiroshima Sun Plaza in Japan.

The Scores:

Hong Kong 71 – Lam 19, McLaughlin 16, Yang 11, Blankley 7, Xu 5, Leung 5, Chan 4, Zhu 4, Cheung 0, Pok 0, Guinchard 0. 

San Miguel 62 – Fajardo 19, Jones 19, Perez 8, Miller 5, Trollano 3, Tautuaa 3, Cahilig 3, Rosales 2, Ross 0, Lassiter 0. 

Quarter Scores: 28-14, 48-34, 60-48, 71-62.