Manila:Barangay Ginebra delivered a commanding performance with a 126-99 victory over San Miguel Beer on Friday, moving a step closer to the PBA Season 50 Governors' Cup semifinals. The game took place at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila, where Jordan Murphy led the charge with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists in Game 2 of their best-of-five quarterfinal series.
According to Philippines News agency, the Gin Kings capitalized on their three-point shooting prowess early in the game and maintained their offensive momentum throughout. Having secured a 104-95 victory in Game 1, Ginebra now stands one win away from advancing. The decisive Game 3 is scheduled for Tuesday at 730 p.m. at City of Dasmarinas Arena in Cavite, following the Converge and Rain or Shine matchup at 515 p.m.
Ginebra's coach, Tim Cone, expressed his surprise at the team's performance, highlighting their offensive flow and defensive focus. RJ Abarrientos and Stephen Holt contributed significantly, each scoring 22 and 19 points respectively, while CJ Perez led San Miguel with 18 points.
In the second game of the night, Converge managed to tie their series against Rain or Shine, with a narrow 130-125 win. Cameron Clark's performance was pivotal, scoring 22 points and making crucial plays in the final minutes. The victory came after a comeback from a tied game, with key contributions from Mikey Williams and Calvin Abueva.
Juan Gomez de Liaño, who scored 20 points and provided critical assists, emphasized the team's composure and collective effort. The game also saw Adrian Nocum of Rain or Shine set a franchise record with 18 assists.
Meanwhile, TNT and NLEX are set to play on Saturday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium, with both teams aiming for semifinal spots. NLEX will face Phoenix, and TNT will go up against Magnolia, with both teams holding a strong position after their previous victories.
