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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider SMB, Ginebra tangle for series advantage in pivotal Game 3

SMB, Ginebra tangle for series advantage in pivotal Game 3

Published Jan 8, 2026 02:40 pm

At A Glance

  • After two games that saw heroes emerging from the respective benches, focus shifts to the pivotal Game 3 as San Miguel and Barangay Ginebra tangle once more for the semis advantage in their best-of-seven affair in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday, Jan. 9.
After two games that saw heroes emerging from the respective benches, focus shifts to the pivotal Game 3 as San Miguel and Barangay Ginebra tangle once more for the semis advantage in their best-of-seven affair in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday, Jan. 9.
Tip-off of the crucial clash is at 7:30 p.m. with the equally anticipated Game 3 duel between TNT and Meralco set to raise the curtain in the first offering at 5:15 p.m.
After dropping a 99-90 decision in the series opener, it was SMB’s turn to flaunt its depth in Game 2 with Jeron Teng, Don Trollano and Jericho Cruz all spearheading the second half breakaway for the Beermen.
But more than the SMB bench stepping up, head coach Leo Austria also lauded his wards on limiting the impact of Ginebra’s own supporting cast.
“Hindi lang si RJ ang kailangan namin bantayan. Ang katulad ni Ralph Cu hindi siya nakapag-contribute heavily unlike last game. I think, 13 points, 4-3 points ginawa niya. And then, also si (Norbert) Torres,” he added.
After getting outscored by Ginebra’s bench, 54-29, SMB returned the favor, 44-37, in the 93-84 Game 2 win.
“Our bench didn’t play well tonight. Nobody from our bench played well tonight. That’s kind of typical with benches, guys coming off the bench,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone
“They’ll be great one night, they may not be there the second night, but hopefully they can come back and we’ll compete with them on the third night,” he added.
Meanwhile, unlike the Beermen and Kings affair, the Tropang 5G are seeking a commanding 3-0 lead over the Bolts following a masterful 109-92 victory in Game 2.
TNT made sure of not committing the same slow start in the series opener in the second game with Jordan Heading and Calvin Oftana all leading the charge. The Tropang 5G did not have to recover from a huge deficit as they led from start to finish.
For Meralco, the mission is clear in Game 3 — avoid falling into a 0-3 deficit — a hole that, in history, only one team in the PBA had managed to overcome.
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