San Miguel def Brgy. Ginebra, 92-90 [PBA S48 Comm’s Cup SF G1 | Jan. 24, 2024]

In the upcoming semi-finals matchup, one side of the court will showcase teams striving to escape the monotony and claim victory. Meanwhile, on the other end, hulking giants will collide in an epic battle for another championship title.

This showdown between corporate siblings, San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra, is not one to be missed. These two dominant teams have held a stronghold on the PBA Commissioner’s Cup titles for the past four years, with only five championships being won by other teams in the last 21 years.

The fierce face-off between these powerhouses kicks off at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum – a display of sheer force and might. The Beermen enter with an impressive six-game winning streak while the Gin Kings ride on a five-game momentum.

Both teams finished strong in the eliminations round with identical 8-3 records and secured their spot in the best-of-five semi-finals with ease.

Their previous playoff encounter during last year’s Governors Cup saw Ginebra emerge as victors after sweeping an injury-laden San Miguel squad in three games. However, during this tournament’s elimination round meeting, it was San Miguel who came out on top with a convincing 95-82 win over their rivals. With an even deeper bench and explosive import Bennie Boatwright added to their arsenal, coach Jorge Gallent’s Beermen are ready to bring their A-game to the semis.

On the other hand, Ginebra coach Tim Cone is faced with a challenging task of containing powerhouse duo Boatwright-June Mar Fajardo. This formidable combination poses quite a challenge for players like Christian Standhardinger, Japeth Aguilar, Tony Bishop Jr., Scottie Thompson, and others who make up Ginebra’s talented roster.

As fans eagerly await this highly anticipated match-up between two giants of Philippine basketball history, it is clear that this will be an intense battle for the ages which will leave everyone on the edge of their seats.