YEAR 2026 in the PBA starts with the familiar sight of sister teams Meralco and TNT and Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel facing off in the 50th Season Philippine Cup semifinals.
Here is a preview of Game 1 of the semifinals:
MERALCO VS. TNT
When: Sunday, January 4. 5:15 p.m.
Where: Smart-Araneta Coliseum
Meralco’s success vs TNT in semifinals
The Bolts are gaining steam in time for their playoff push. Meralco overcame Rain or Shine’s twice-to-beat advantage with two victories with an average winning margin of 13 points to advance to the semifinals.
One thing going for Meralco is that the Bolts have won against the Tropang 5G in all two semifinal clashes – 2016 and 2019 Governors’ Cup. But it is the first time that the two will square off in the semis of the all-Filipino conference.
Slowing down the game
Meralco was successful against Rain or Shine by controlling the pace of the game. By slowing the tempo, the Bolts limited the usually high-scoring Elasto Painters squad to an average of 84 per outing. Meralco needs to do the same in order to be successful against TNT.
Expect a close series
If their elimination round game would be the basis, the TNT-Meralco tussle might be a close encounter. The Tropang 5G beat the Bolts in overtime, 100-98, last October 29.
Heading on a heater
Jordan Heading has been a huge spark for TNT over the last two games against Magnolia where he averaged 23 points per outing. He has been huge from the four-point line with a 4-of-5 mark from that spot. Watch out for his production in Game 1.
BARANGAY GINEBRA VS. SAN MIGUEL
When: Sunday, January 4. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Smart-Araneta Coliseum
Coming off a morale-boosting win
Barangay Ginebra’s victory over Converge in the quarterfinals is still the talk of the town. Stephen Holt’s buzzer-beating three completed the Gin Kings’ comeback in erasing the FiberXers’ twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
San Miguel still on a winning streak
San Miguel continued to be on a winning roll in the Philippine Cup when it extended its winning streak to 10 games after ousting eighth-seed NLEX, 101-94, last Christmas. The Beermen have now won 10 straight games entering the semifinal match-up against Ginebra.
Could also be a close series
Like the Meralco-TNT series, the Barangay Ginebra-San Miguel showdown could also be a tight one if the basis is their elimination round contest. In their October 26 salvo in Dubai, San Miguel defeated Ginebra, 83-81, after June Mar Fajardo’s stellar 17-point, 16-rebound outing.
In their last playoff match-up, San Miguel also won the 49th Season Philippine Cup semifinals, but it required a Game 7 win (100-93 last July 9) in order to advance.
Depth to be tested
The depth of the teams, or in the case of Ginebra, the lack thereof, could determine the complexion of the series. San Miguel’s deep bench has been one of the reasons why it topped the elimination round, a test that Ginebra must overcome. The Gin Kings’ bench have become a suspect after losing Christian Standhardinger and Jamie Malonzo over the years. Ginebra’s bench took another hit after Jayson David sustained a dislocated shoulder during the knockout game against Converge, his status still unknown as of posting time.
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