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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Now or never: SMB, Ginebra dispute Finals spot in winner-take-all Game 7

Now or never: SMB, Ginebra dispute Finals spot in winner-take-all Game 7

Published Jul 8, 2025 01:57 pm

At A Glance

  • San Miguel and Barangay Ginebra lock horns one last time for a chance to meet the Grand Slam-seeking TNT in the Finals in Game 7 of their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday, July 9.
Two proud franchises, only one Finals spot left.
One aiming to regain its status as the best in the Philippine Cup, while the other seeks a shot at redemption against the already Finals-bound TNT after getting defeated in their last two Finals meetings.
It is now or never.
San Miguel and Barangay Ginebra lock horns one last time for a chance to meet the Grand Slam-seeking TNT in the Finals in Game 7 of their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday, July 9.
Tip-off of the clash is at 7:30 p.m. with both squads ready to gut it out even after the grueling first six games of the series.
The Kings, who won Games 1, 3 and 6, are riding the euphoria from LA Tenorio's heroics in Game 6 – a moment that will surely serve as fuel and inspiration for Ginebra in its bid for a third straight Finals appearance this season.
“I was just thinking just now, that if by chance, if by chance we win this championship, this is the game everyone will remember right here. That shot of LA's,” Cone said of what he deemed as a ‘miracle’ shot from Tenorio who dragged the series to a sudden death after Ginebra’s 88-87 win.
“He's given us a chance. He's given us a chance to go into Game 7 and still fighting for a championship. So, we'll see what we can do,” he added.
But SMB won’t just roll over and die.
Not when they came tantalizingly close – just 20 seconds to be exact – at winning the series altogether if not for the disaster that struck them when Tenorio buried the go-ahead triple with 3.1 seconds left.
June Mar Fajardo, the undisputed leader of the Beermen, should also be raring to bounce back from the crucial free throw misses that could have saved SMB from the fangs of defeat in Game 6.
Of course, the Beermen are also armed with a wealth of experience in such situations with Marcio Lassiter and Chris Ross still part of the team as well as CJ Perez, Don Trollano and Jericho Cruz.
The Kings, though, are not giving up much in terms of talent with Jamie Malonzo, RJ Abarrientos and Stephe Holt all ready to back up Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar.
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