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Beermen Edge Out Gin Kings In Heart-Stopping Dubai Duel
Photo credit: PBA
What a game in Dubai! The San Miguel Beermen barely held off Barangay Ginebra in a nail-biter finish, escaping with an 83-81 win Sunday night in the PBA Philippine Cup.
The defending champs looked in full control early, building a comfortable 14-point cushion. But true to Ginebra’s never-say-die spirit, the Kings came charging back — slicing the lead to just two points in the dying seconds after Japeth Aguilar’s thunderous slam dunk with 3.7 ticks left on the clock.
Then came the heart-stopping twist. Troy Rosario swiped the ball off Kris Rosales’ errant inbound, giving Ginebra one last shot at stealing the game. But Scottie Thompson’s desperate four-point attempt at the buzzer clanged off, sealing San Miguel’s escape.
June Mar Fajardo once again proved why he’s the league’s most dominant force, powering the Beermen with 17 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocks. He got plenty of help too — CJ Perez, Juami Tiongson, and JM Calma each chipped in 10 points, with Calma turning in his best game yet in a San Miguel jersey.
The win gave San Miguel its second straight victory, evening their record at 2-2.
For Ginebra, it’s another tough loss — their second in a row — dropping them to 1-3. According to PBA stats chief Fidel Mangonon III, this marks the Kings’ worst start since the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup, and their first All-Filipino slump of this level in a decade.
Despite the heartbreak, Ginebra’s key men showed grit. Aguilar matched Fajardo’s energy with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks. Sophomore RJ Abarrientos also scored 17, while Thompson flirted with a triple-double with 15 points, nine boards, and seven assists.
In the end, the Beermen stood tall in Dubai — but if this fiery showdown was any indication, fans can expect plenty more fireworks the next time these two PBA powerhouses collide.
The defending champs looked in full control early, building a comfortable 14-point cushion. But true to Ginebra’s never-say-die spirit, the Kings came charging back — slicing the lead to just two points in the dying seconds after Japeth Aguilar’s thunderous slam dunk with 3.7 ticks left on the clock.
Then came the heart-stopping twist. Troy Rosario swiped the ball off Kris Rosales’ errant inbound, giving Ginebra one last shot at stealing the game. But Scottie Thompson’s desperate four-point attempt at the buzzer clanged off, sealing San Miguel’s escape.
June Mar Fajardo once again proved why he’s the league’s most dominant force, powering the Beermen with 17 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocks. He got plenty of help too — CJ Perez, Juami Tiongson, and JM Calma each chipped in 10 points, with Calma turning in his best game yet in a San Miguel jersey.
The win gave San Miguel its second straight victory, evening their record at 2-2.
For Ginebra, it’s another tough loss — their second in a row — dropping them to 1-3. According to PBA stats chief Fidel Mangonon III, this marks the Kings’ worst start since the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup, and their first All-Filipino slump of this level in a decade.
Despite the heartbreak, Ginebra’s key men showed grit. Aguilar matched Fajardo’s energy with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks. Sophomore RJ Abarrientos also scored 17, while Thompson flirted with a triple-double with 15 points, nine boards, and seven assists.
In the end, the Beermen stood tall in Dubai — but if this fiery showdown was any indication, fans can expect plenty more fireworks the next time these two PBA powerhouses collide.
Oct 27, 2025
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