SPORTS
Advocates Philippines
Abarrientos Ignites Second-Half Surge As Ginebra Reclaims Edge Over San Miguel In Semis
PBA Images
Barangay Ginebra found its fire again—and this time, it came from the electrifying play of RJ Abarrientos. With the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinal series hanging in the balance, the rookie guard delivered a standout performance to steer the Gin Kings to a pivotal 100-90 victory over San Miguel Beer in Game 3 on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Abarrientos flirted with a triple-double, posting 24 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, including a masterful 22-point explosion in the second half. His fingerprints were all over the momentum-shifting moments: he either scored or assisted in a key 10-0 run that helped Ginebra break loose in the third quarter, then poured in 18 points in the fourth to keep San Miguel at bay.
“We figured a couple of things out,” said coach Tim Cone. “I thought we played with a really good tempo, and RJ just played tremendous down the stretch to keep them at bay.”
That strong finish gave Ginebra a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, bouncing back from a stinging 83-100 loss in Game 2. Jamie Malonzo chipped in 20 points and seven rebounds, Japeth Aguilar added 18, while Scottie Thompson turned in a steady 16-7-5 line. Stephen Holt also made his presence felt with 10 points and seven boards.
Cone acknowledged the adjustments that had to be made following their lackluster Game 2 showing.
“We didn’t play a good game last time out. We had to tip our cap to San Miguel—they came out with tremendous energy, especially knowing June Mar was going to be limited,” Cone said, referring to Beermen star June Mar Fajardo, who is nursing a calf injury.
Fajardo still managed a double-double—12 points and 14 rebounds—in just over 27 minutes, while Don Trollano led San Miguel with 22 points. But the Beermen were once again forced into catch-up mode, unable to neutralize Ginebra’s tempo or match Abarrientos’ spark.
With the win, Ginebra moves two wins away from a third straight finals appearance this season. The series resumes on Wednesday, where the Gin Kings aim to put more distance between themselves and the hungry Beermen.
For now, Ginebra rides high on the shoulders of their rookie standout—who’s looking less like a newcomer and more like a rising star with each game.
Abarrientos flirted with a triple-double, posting 24 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, including a masterful 22-point explosion in the second half. His fingerprints were all over the momentum-shifting moments: he either scored or assisted in a key 10-0 run that helped Ginebra break loose in the third quarter, then poured in 18 points in the fourth to keep San Miguel at bay.
“We figured a couple of things out,” said coach Tim Cone. “I thought we played with a really good tempo, and RJ just played tremendous down the stretch to keep them at bay.”
That strong finish gave Ginebra a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, bouncing back from a stinging 83-100 loss in Game 2. Jamie Malonzo chipped in 20 points and seven rebounds, Japeth Aguilar added 18, while Scottie Thompson turned in a steady 16-7-5 line. Stephen Holt also made his presence felt with 10 points and seven boards.
Cone acknowledged the adjustments that had to be made following their lackluster Game 2 showing.
“We didn’t play a good game last time out. We had to tip our cap to San Miguel—they came out with tremendous energy, especially knowing June Mar was going to be limited,” Cone said, referring to Beermen star June Mar Fajardo, who is nursing a calf injury.
Fajardo still managed a double-double—12 points and 14 rebounds—in just over 27 minutes, while Don Trollano led San Miguel with 22 points. But the Beermen were once again forced into catch-up mode, unable to neutralize Ginebra’s tempo or match Abarrientos’ spark.
With the win, Ginebra moves two wins away from a third straight finals appearance this season. The series resumes on Wednesday, where the Gin Kings aim to put more distance between themselves and the hungry Beermen.
For now, Ginebra rides high on the shoulders of their rookie standout—who’s looking less like a newcomer and more like a rising star with each game.
Jun 30, 2025
We are dedicated storytellers with a passion for bringing your brand to life. Our services range from news and media features to brand promotion and collaborations.
Interested? Visit our
Contact Us page for more information. To learn more about what we offer, check out our latest article on services and opportunities.
