Adrian Nocum delivered another all-around performance, tallying 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists to lead Rain or Shine to a 103-98 victory over TNT in Game 3 of their PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup semi-final showdown on Sunday night, March 2, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Once again, Nocum was inserted into the starting lineup for the Elasto Painters, proving he was worthy of the trust placed in him by head coach Yeng Guiao.

The 24-year-old guard also drew eight fouls against TNT, matching the tally of import Deon Thompson, who led the team with 19 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block.

Beyond Nocum, Caelan Tiongson stepped up with one of his best performances in the playoffs, contributing 18 points, four rebounds, and four assists, while Anton Asistio and Gian Mamuyac added 12 and nine points, respectively.

On the other hand, Tropang Giga, missing veteran Jayson Castro due to season-ending injury, leaned heavily on reinforcement Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who erupted for a game-high 34 points and 19 rebounds.

Hollis-Jefferson logged over 45 minutes on the court despite observing a daytime fast for Ramadan.

Roger Ray Pogoy provided much-needed support with his best performance of the series, scoring 21 points, while Calvin Oftana and John Paul Erram chipped in 13 and 10 points, respectively.

As in Games 1 and 2, the matchup remained tight until the closing moments. However, this time, Rain or Shine managed to break through and secure a crucial win to stay within reach in the series.

The Elasto Painters will look to even the series at 2-2 on Wednesday, March 5, at 7:30 PM at the same venue.

The Scores:

RAIN OR SHINE 103 - Thompson 19, Tiongson 18, Nocum 16, Asistio 12, Mamuyac 9, Santillan 8, Clarito 7, Norwood 7, Datu 4, Caracut 3, Lemetti 0.

TNT 98 - Hollis-Jefferson 34, Pogoy 21, Oftana 13, Erram 10, Williams 8, Aurin 8, Nambatac 2, Khobuntin 2, Heruela 0, Razon 0.

Quarter Scores: 21-21, 49-43, 75-73, 103-98.

Barangay Ginebra pulled away in the third quarter to secure a 115-93 victory over NorthPort in Game 1 of their PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup semifinal series last night, February 26, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Gin Kings relied on balanced scoring, led by Justin Brownlee’s 19 points, to take the series opener. He also contributed four rebounds and four assists in just 32 minutes of action.

Troy Rosario followed with 15 points, while RJ Abarrientos added 14, and Japeth Aguilar chipped in 11.

Nearly all players fielded by head coach Tim Cone got on the scoreboard, except for Ben Adamos.

Despite the dominant win, Cone remained grounded, reminding his team that it was only the first step in a long series.

Still, the victory is a significant confidence boost for a Ginebra squad that struggled with limited practice time during the long break. Cone, Brownlee, Rosario, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Japeth Aguilar, and LA Tenorio were all occupied with Gilas Pilipinas commitments.

On the other side, Kadeem Jack—NorthPort’s Best Import frontrunner—put up an impressive 33-point, 12-rebound performance, including 21 points in the first half, keeping his team within striking distance at 51-56 by halftime.

However, he received little offensive support. Joshua Munzon was the only other Batang Pier player in double figures with 10 points.

Arvin Tolentino, a top contender for Best Player of the Conference, was held to just eight points, while William Navarro also finished with eight.

NorthPort will aim to bounce back and even the series in Game 2, scheduled for Friday, February 28, at 5 PM at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.

Jayson Castro turned back the clock as the TNT Tropang Giga claimed an 88-84 victory over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Game 1 of their best-of-seven series in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday, February 26, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The 38-year-old Castro was lethal from beyond the arc, hitting six of his seven three-point attempts to finish with a team-high 24 points.

Like Castro, Gilas Pilipinas forward Calvin Oftana also excelled from long range, scoring 22 markers on 6-of-8 shooting from three-point territory, helping TNT pull off the win despite a poor shooting night from star import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

Hollis-Jefferson finished with 23 points but struggled with his shooting, making just 8-of-27 field goal attempts and missing all seven of his three-point efforts.

“Rondae shot really poorly, he didn’t even hit 30% of his shots, so it was important that other guys stepped up,” said TNT head coach Chot Reyes. “Rain or Shine did a really good job defending Rondae, and when that happens, we need to go to our counters.” 

“Jayson and Calvin provided that firepower off the bench. It was a tough game for us, but we managed to win even with our import struggling offensively,” he added.

Rain or Shine led by as much as nine points early in the second quarter, 37-28, but Oftana sparked the turnaround for TNT, scoring 12 of his 22 points to give the Tropang Giga a 51-47 lead at halftime.

The second half was a close contest, and with the game tied at 81 with under five minutes remaining, TNT went on a 6-1 run, with baskets from RR Pogoy, Castro, and Hollis-Jefferson.

Rain or Shine came within one point after Andrei Caracut’s two free throws with 1:59 left, making it 84-87. However, that was the last time they scored as TNT’s defense forced four consecutive turnovers in the closing moments.

Deon Thompson led Rain or Shine with a game-high 29 markers and 16 rebounds but also committed a game-high seven turnovers. Adrian Nocum was the only other Elasto Painter in double figures, contributing 18 points.

Following the establishment of Masters Pinoy Pilipinas 45up Basketball team in the latter part of 2024, the said basketball team is now preparing themselves and getting ready to compete in the upcoming World Masters Games to be held in Taiwan on May 17 to May 30. 

Masters Pinoy Pilipinas Team Manager and Architect Rey Punongbayan said that the initial practice already started since December last year and they are now in the process of selecting  the 12 players who will join and be included in their roster list who will compete in 5x5 and 3x3 category. 

“We have 12 players, that's for the World Masters Games, plus we also have 3x3. So that we can maximize our participation,” said Punongbayan in an exclusive interview with Dribble Report.

Punongbayan also said that their players are among those who are ex-pro in Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and other collegiate basketball leagues in the country that are physically capable and conditioned themselves in this field of sports. 

“Right now, we are in deep preparation for our participation. We combine all the players that are young in age and ex-pro only, 45 years old and up. It will happen on May 17 to 30," Punongbayan shared.

"So, we will compete there (Taiwan), and in other Asian countries,” he added.

Pinoy Masters head coach Arlene Rodriguez emphasizes the importance of this team to those who are in the age 45 years old and above because they already understand the game better and they already have a lot of experience playing basketball physically fit but also mentally prepared and alert. 

“Actually, they understand the game better as they already have a lot of experience playing. Mentally, they are prepared, they can pick the instructions easily, unlike the young ones that need details of everything,” said coach Rodriguez.

Coach Rodriguez added that upon the selection of their players in Pinoy Masters they need to work out and level up the conditioning of all players including the team effort from both defense and offense. 

“The only thing that we need to work out is their conditioning, including team effort from both offense and defense,” Coach Rodriguez added.

Punongbayan and Coach Rodriguez asked our countrymen to support the Masters Pinoy in their upcoming tournament happening on May 17 to 30. 

“Please support our Pinoy Masters Pilipinas 45 up team that will compete in the World Masters tournament from May 17 to 30 in Taiwan. So, please support us and Laban Pilipinas,” Punongbayan concluded. 

“I hope you support us. Masters Pinoy in the World Masters tournament in Taiwan from May 17th to 30th,” Coach Rodriguez finished.

Gilas Pilipinas unbeaten record in the Group B of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers will be on the line when they face Chinese Taipei tonight, February 20, 7:00 PM at the Taipei Heping basketball gymnasium.

The Philippine team has already qualified for the Asian Cup tournament set in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from August 5-17 as they swept the first two windows to have a 4-0 win-loss record.

On the other hand, the Taiwanese are battling for survival as they only have one win in the tournament against three losses. The only team that they have beaten so far is Hong Kong, China (0-4) whom they dismantled at home, 88-55.

A win will give them a higher chance to finish third place in Group B and make it to the Qualifying Tournament among third placed teams and a possible last-minute shot of making it to Jeddah.

In their first encounter last year, the Philippines defeated Chinese Taipei, 106-53, at the Philsports Arena. The Filipinos would like to repeat the win but are expecting a tougher battler as they face a team looking for redemption.

Though the Filipinos have already qualified for the Asian Cup tournament, Gilas head coach Tim Cone emphasized that they will use this third and final window as preparation for the said tourney.

After tonight’s game, Gilas will fly to New Zealand to battle the Tall Blacks on February 23 in Auckland.

Like Gilas, the Tall Blacks have already qualified for the Asian Cup with a 3-1 record, and will also use the final window to prepare for the next tournament.

The Philippine team came off a five-day, three-game friendly in Doha, Qatar, where they ended up with a 1-2 record, its lone win coming at the expense of the home team, 74-71.

"That's what being a professional basketball player is all about. You have to be ready to play regardless of where and what time. You got to put your best foot forward at all times," said Chris Newsome regarding their national team duties where they have to play five games in three different countries in just about a week.

"Tough schedule, but that's just the way it is this window," Dwight Ramos added.

Gilas might have a tough schedule but it will also give the Philippine team a chance to be tougher and fight better in the higher level of basketball competition.

Gilas Pilipinas Women 3x3 and Uratez Dream fought hard and reached the semifinals of the Jumpshot 3x3 Season 2 in Singapore over the weekend.

Both Filipino teams exhibited great resilience in their matches but ultimately fell short in the Final Four.

Gilas Women made it tough for their opponents before losing to the eventual champions, Chuu of Thailand, 15-13.

Kaye Pingol rejoined the Nationals, teaming up with Camille Clarin, Jhaz Joson, and Mikka Cacho. They topped Pool C with a perfect 3-0 record before defeating NTSC 1, 16-14, in the quarterfinals.

Uratex Dream, meanwhile, fell to the Panthers 3x3 Spain, 21-14, in their semifinal match.

With veterans Sam Harada and Li Renzhu, and additions Hazelle Yam and Japanese guard Wakana Yagami, Uratex finished second in Pool B with a 2-1 record. They advanced to the quarters, beating Shoot It Dragons, 21-16.

Despite their defeats, it was a strong showing for the Philippine teams, following their performance at the Manila Hustle 3x3 Season 3 last week.

Uratex Tibay, which included CC Junsay, Marian Domingo, Lourdes Ordoveza, and Ford Grajales, did not make it past the group stages with a 1-2 record in Pool A.

Chuu, led by Thai stars Bo Supavadee and Junny Udomsuk, took home the women’s title and the USD3,000 prize after defeating the Panthers 3×3, featuring Ari Geli and Paris Olympian Kacie Bosch.

On the men's side, Uncle Drew Pilipinas finished as runners-up after a 20-15 loss to Jumpshot Singapore in the final.

The team, made up of TH Tumalip, Shaq Alanes, and imports Joshua Keyes and Jose Blazquez, earned the top seed in Pool A, beating NTSC 2, 21-19, in the quarters and Chinese Taipei, 21-17, in the semifinals.

Luka Doncic was welcomed by the fans in the Crypto.com Arena with open arms when he made his debut wearing the Lakers jersey in Los Angeles, on Tuesday, February 11 (Philippine Time).

Doncic finished with 14 points, five rebounds, and four assists in his very first game as a Laker, after the shocking trade a week ago.

The Slovenian only played 24 minutes as he’s still recovering from injury, but the Los Angeles Lakers didn’t need much of his presence as the whole team already dominated the Utah Jazz to get the 132-113 victory.

It was also a dream-come-true for the 25-year-old wonder, who will turn a year older at the end of the month, as he played alongside his NBA idol, LeBron James.

James led all scorers with 24 markers, on top of his eight dimes, and seven boards in just 29 minutes of play. He was also +24 while inside the court but he turned the ball over seven times.

Besides Doncic and James, the three other starters also ended up in double-digits. Austin Reaves, who played point guard at times for the Lakers added 22 points and nine rebounds, while Rui Hachimura added 21-and-six, and Jaxson Hayes finished with 12 on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting from the field.

The bench also contributed well in the Lakers win as Jordan Goodwin chipped-in 17, while Gabe Vincent added 11.

On the other hand, all of the Utah Jazz starters scored a minimum of 13 points but not enough to stop the Lakers, who shot a high-clip of 54.3% from the field.

Meanwhile, in Dallas where Doncic played before the trade, the Mavericks lost to the Sacramento Kings in overtime, 128-129.

Doncic's trade counterpart, Anthony Davis did not play in the Mavs defeat due to injury. 

After failing to win against Barangay Ginebra last Sunday, February 9, in their best-of-three series in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals, the Meralco Bolts headed their way to Taiwan for another must-win showdown on Wednesday, February 12. 

The Bolts will face New Taipei Kings for the last time, where it will be known who will go to the final slot for the Final Four of the East Asia Super League. 

Meralco Bolts coach Luigi Trillo said that they will now focus on their match in the EASL, after their loss against Ginebra Kings. 

“Right now, we just have to focus on the next one. We have the ESL in front of us” said Coach Trillo. 

With head-to-head results as the first tiebreaker and this being their only meeting of the season, a Meralco win would tie both teams at 3-3 and send the Bolts to the Final Four. That makes this a must-win for both sides.

The Bolts started the season strong at 2-1 with wins over the Macau Black Bears and the Busan KCC Egis. They appeared poised for a 3-1 record, leading by 13 with three minutes left in a Dec. 18 rematch against KCC. However, KCC’s Heo Ung orchestrated a stunning 14-0 run, handing Meralco a heartbreaking loss. Also an 18-point blowout against Ryukyu dropped them to 2-3 standing.

According to Meralco Bolts team captain Chris Newsome, although it was sad on their part that they were not included in the PBA semi finals, but, it was happy because the country was lucky to be included in the EASL.

“That we earned to get to the position of being one of the top teams in the Philippines in EASL. Actually, the top team from the Philippines in EASL, so yeah, now it's time to go out there to Taipei,” said Newsome. 

Newsome also added that they will face a tough game on Wednesday against the Chinese Taipei Kings, especially because they also have Jeremy Lin in the line-up, but the Bolts team captain said that they will use the experience they had in the match against the Ginebra Kings to prepare the opponent.

“It's gonna be a tough one another away game, but I think this one is gonna be good for us because this Ginebra series prepared us for kind of what an away game.Yeah I mean everybody knows New Taipei is a tough team. They got Jeremy Lin. I know he's coming off an injury too,” Newsome added.

Barangay Ginebra got its sixth straight semi-final appearance after defeating Meralco 94-87 in Game 3 of their PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals series on Sunday night, February 9, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Justin Brownlee showed once again how clutch he is, pouring out an almost triple-double performance of 25 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists to lead the Gin Kings.

He was supported by RJ Abbarientos, who contributed 16 markers while excellently orchestrating the offense for Ginebra.

Stephen Holt added 17, while Troy Rosario put up 12 to help Brownlee and Abarrientos in bringing another Final Four slot for the Gin Kings.

Meanwhile, Meralco was led by team captain Chris Newsome with 22 points, who lacked help from their reinforcement Akil Mitchell, who was limited to only eight markers.

Bong Quinto, Cliff Hodge, and Chris Banchero had 16, 13, and 12, respectively, in helping the Bolts fight for their conference lives.

Ginebra will face the top-seeded NorthPort Batang Pier in the Final Four that will begin on February 26, Wednesday, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Scores:

GINEBRA 94 - Brownlee 25, Holt 17, Abarrientos 16, Rosario 12, Thompson 7, J.Aguilar 6, Ahanmisi 6, Cu 5, Malonzo 0.

MERALCO 87: Newsome 22, Quinto 16, Hodge 13, Banchero 12, Black 9, Mitchell 8, Rios 5, Almazan 2, Bates 0.

Quarter Scores: 19-22, 37-38, 64-58, 94-87.

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters entered the semifinals for the third straight time, after defeating the Converge FiberXers in Game 3 of their quarterfinals duel of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup, 112-103, on Sunday night, February 9, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

RoS import Deon Thompson led the charge with 32 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists, while Game 2 hero Adrian Nocum, added 25 markers.

In the post-game interview, E-Painters head coach Yeng Guiao said, "We're very happy. The past two conferences we made the semifinals so it would be a pity if we did not make the semifinals this conference.It's also a validation of all the hard work the guys put in, the togetherness and the camaraderie that they have."

Now that they are in the Final Four, they will once again meet the TNT Tropang Giga, who defeated them in the previous Governors’ Cup.

TNT derailed the Rain or Shine’s finals hopes last conference, winning their series 4-1, and eventually won the championship.

But Guiao is unfazed by the situation, "Ang ano ko rito, if you hang around long enough maybe you'll make the finals. So just hang around there, be in the thick of the fight," he said, only half in jest.

"Just be there, just show up and maybe one day you can get to the finals. Iyon lang objective namin," he added.

On the other hand, Alec Stockton had a career-best 26 points, on top of six assists to pace Converge, while import Cheick Diallo had 19 markers and 13 boards.

Diallo spent a lengthy amount of time on the bench after committing his fifth foul at the 5:45 mark of the third period. He was fielded again at the 9:45 mark of the final canto.

The Final Four will begin on Wednesday, February 26, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Scores:

RAIN OR SHINE 112 - Thompson 34, Nocum 25, Caracut 14, Clarito 11, Asistio 7, Belga 6, Datu 5, Tiongson 5, Santillan 4, Malonzo 1.

CONVERGE 103 - Stockton 26, Diallo 19, Baltazar 16, Arana 15, Winston 14, Racal 7, Heading 3, Andrade 3, Santos 0, Cabagnot 0, Caralipio 0, Delos Santos 0, Javillonar 0.

Quarter Scores: 22-21, 50-45, 80-77, 112-103.

Scottie Thompson tallied 23 points, seven rebounds, six assists, five steals, and a block to lead Barangay Ginebra in defeating Meralco 100-92 in Game 1 of their PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals duel last night, February 5, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Thompson was all-around the court scoring buckets, grabbing emphatic boards, dishing off important dimes, while deflecting opponent’s passes and protecting the rim.

Resident import Justin Brownlee added another 23 markers to help Thompson, while Japeth Aguilar contributed 19.

Rookie RJ Abarrientos was also instrumental to the win, as he produced 14 points on top of his six assists and four rebounds.

On the other hand, Chris Newsome paced Meralco with 20 markers, including two three-pointers, while import Akil Mitchell, who just returned in action after missing two games due to injury, added 19 points and 14 boards.

Jansen Rios, Chris Banchero, and Bong Quinto also scored in double-digits, supplying 13, 12, and 11, respectively.

Game 2 is set on Friday, February 7, 5:00 PM at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

If Ginebra wins that game, the Gin Kings will be already entering the semis, but if Meralco wins, the Bolts will force a sudden-death match on Sunday, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The Scores:

GINEBRA 100 - Brownlee 23, Thompson 23, J. Aguilar 19, Abarrientos 14, Rosario 8, Malonzo 7, Holt 6, Ahanmisi 0.

MERALCO 92 - Newsome 20, Mitchell 19, Rios 13, Banchero 12, Quinto 11, Almazan 8, Black 5, Hodge 4, Bates 0, Cansino 0.

Quarter Scores: 24-17, 50-47, 78-76, 100-92.

Justin Arana returned to the hardcourt to guide Converge past Rain or Shine as it eked out a 130-118 win in Game 1 of their best-of-three quarterfinals series in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday, February 5, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

Converge’s big man put up 22 points and eight rebounds in his return from a knee injury that saw the FiberXers overcome a 17-point deficit to win the first game of the best-of-three quarterfinals. 

“This is our fifth time being in the quarterfinals but we have yet to reach the semis. We’re really eager to seal the win,” said Arana in Filipino. “Hopefully, we get another win so we can make our first semis trip.”

As Rain or Shine continued to dominate despite the manpower problem, Adrian Nocum then made a three-pointer to put the deficit at 104-105 early in the fourth quarter.

After being forced to sit out due to a blatant foul late in the third, Arana came alive and made up for lost time. 

Unfazed by the hyperextended knee he sustained in their penultimate elimination round matchup against the San Miguel Berrmen on January 24, Arana gave Converge a comfortable 122-108 cushion after sinking nine points in a 17-4 run.

Import Cheick Diallo top scored for the FiberXers with 35 markers on top of 17 boards and three rejections, capitalizing on the premature exit of Elasto Painters counterpart Deon Thompson in the third period due to six fouls. 

Jordan Heading posted 21 points with nine assists and two blocks for the FiberXers, while Schonny Winston registered 17 markers, pulled down four boards, and dished out four dimes. 

Alec Stockton delivered a 13-point, 10-assist double-double, with rookie Justin Baltazar adding 13 markers and six boards, highlighted by his poster slam on veteran Beau Belga during their fourth-quarter breakaway.

Meanwhile, Caelan Tiongson scored 23 points, three rebounds, and two assists to lead the Elasto Painters. But his efforts went down the drain as it was unable to cover the void left by Thompson, who played just under 25 minutes.

Adrian Nocum and Anton Asistio contributed 14 points each in the defeat.

Converge will look to conclude the series and advance to the semifinals when Game 2 unwraps on Friday, February 7, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero likes their chances against the No. 1 seed NorthPort Batang Pier when they clash on Thursday, February 6, to begin their quarterfinals battle in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.

"We're the underdog in this series. We're down in this series 0-1. So it's another do-or-die situation for us," said Victolero. "But I like our chances."

The Hotshots started the conference with a 3-6 record and were on the brink of elimination but the team peaked at the right time and won four straight do-or-die matches, including the playoff for the No. 8 spot against NLEX, where they dominated the Road Warriors, 112-81, and entered their 19th straight playoff appearances. 

Magnolia can extend that winning streak but they have overcome another must-win scenario when they face the Batang Pier, who defeated them in their lone game in the preliminaries, 103-107.

Being the top team after the elimination round, NorthPort has a twice-to-beat advantage over Magnolia, and can already advance to the Final Four for the first time since the 2019 Governor’s Cup if they win on their first encounter in the playoffs.

The NBA shocked the basketball world yesterday, February 2, when the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for big man Anthony Davis.

Included in the Luka package were Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, while AD will be with Max Christie and LAL’s 2029 first round pick.

According to Dallas General Manager Nico Harrison, they had a vision and a culture that they needed to create that’s why they pulled off the trade.

"As we turn the page, I think it's important to know that [Mavs coach Jason Kidd] and I, we've had a vision and the culture that we want to create since we've been here," said Harrison in a post-game press conference after Dallas started the post-Luka era with a 101-144 loss at Cleveland.

"The players that we're bringing in, we believe, exemplify that. We think defense wins championships, and we're bringing in one of the best two-way players in the league," he added.

Doncic was also surprised by the trade as he didn’t request one, and even thought that he’d spend his entire career as a Maverick and bring a championship there.

Despite the situation, the generational superstar was still thankful for everything that the Dallas community shared with him.

“Seven years ago, I came here as a teenager to pursue my dream of playing basketball at the highest level. I thought I'd spend my career here and I wanted so badly to bring you a championship,” Doncic wrote.

“The love and support you all have given me is more than I could have ever dreamed of. For a young kid from Slovenia coming to the U.S. for the first time, you made North Texas feel like home. In good times and bad, from injuries to the NBA Finals, your support never changed."

"As I start the next part of my basketball journey, I am leaving a city that will always feel like a home away from home. Dallas is a special place, and Mavs fans are special fans. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”

“Grateful for this amazing opportunity. Basketball means everything to me, and no matter where I play the game, I’ll do so with the same joy, passion and goal — to win championships.,” Doncic ended.

Barangay Ginebra blew a 17-point lead but managed to hold on to a 91-87 victory against Meralco during Chinese New Year at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

RJ Abarrientos sank four crucial free throws to seal the deal. He finished with a game-high 17 points to preserve the victory for the Gin Kings, who closed the eliminations with an 8-4 win-loss, tied with Converge FiberXers.

Abarrientos was backstopped by Justin Brownlee who contributed 15 markers, while Troy Rosario and Stephen Holt put up 13 apiece.

Despite missing import Akil Mitchell, who’s suffering from back spasm, the Bolts still managed to trim down the large deficit into two, but the crowd favorite nudged the bullet behind Abarrientos clutch shots.

The loss also halted Meralco's three-game winning streak, and went down to a 7-4 record. They can still improve their record if they win their last assignment against Magnolia on Friday, January 31 at the Philsports Arena.

The Bolts still tried to force an overtime in the end but rookie Kurt Reyson missed his four-pointer at the buzzer.

CJ Cansino led Meralco with 15 markers, while Raymond Almazan added 13, and Aaron Black put up 11.

The Scores:

GINEBRA 91 - Abarrientos 17, Brownlee 15, Rosario 13, Holt 13, Malonzo 9, Pessumal 7, Ahanmisi 6, J. Aguilar 4, R. Aguilar 2, Pinto 2, Thompson 2, Tenorio 1, Cu 0, Mariano 0.

MERALCO 87 - Cansino 15, Almazan 13, Black 11, Hodge 9, Newsome 9, Quinto 8, Rios 5, Torres 5, Pasaol 4, Banchero 4, Bates 4, Reyson 0.

Quarter Scores: 21-22, 44-42, 68-59, 91-87.

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.