LIVE UPDATES: PBA Commissioner’s Cup semis January 28

By: 10 months ago

2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semis schedule (January 28)

Mall of Asia Arena

3 p.m. Magnolia Hotshots vs Phoenix Fuel Masters
6:30 p.m. San Miguel Beermen vs Ginebra Gin Kings

PBA: Tim Cone lauds ‘very deep’ San Miguel after Ginebra semis exit

Ginebra Tim Cone PBA semis San Miguel

Ginebra coach Tim Cone in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals against San Miguel. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Multi-titled coach Tim Cone gave credit where credit is due after Ginebra was given the boot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup by San Miguel.

After the Gin Kings’ Game 3 94-91 loss to the Beermen that ended their Commissioner’s Cup reign, Cone made sure to laud the opposing side for a dominant string of games.

“They’re playing at a high level, [they’re a] tough team, they’re very deep as well. First night it was CJ (Perez), second it was (Marcio) Lassiter and he had a great night again but (Jericho) Cruz stepped up tonight. They have someone every night that can step up and enhance what (Bennie) Boatwright and June Mar (Fajardo) are doing,” said the veteran tactician.

Photos: Ginebra vs San Miguel PBA semis Game 3

Video: Ginebra import Tony Bishop after the Gin Kings’ PBA semifinals exit

Jericho Cruz shuts down Ginebra noise to help San Miguel reach PBA Finals

San Miguel Beermen’s Jericho Cruz delivers in Game 3 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals against Ginebra. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—In a game where the stakes are at their highest, San Miguel’s Jericho Cruz blocked out the noise.

In front of 15,126 electric fans—with the majority supporting the Gin Kings—Cruz locked in and silenced “Ginebra” chants with thunderous buckets that sucked the life out of Mall of Asia Arena.

Playing against one of the biggest fan bases in the PBA, Cruz scattered 17 points on a blistering 63 percent field goal shooting clip to help the Beermen sweep the Gin Kings and reach the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

Video: Ginebra coach Tim Cone after PBA semis loss

Video: San Miguel Beermen celebrate sweep of Ginebra Gin Kings

San Miguel sweeps Ginebra to book PBA Finals berth

Bennie Boatwright San Miguel Beermen celebrate booking a seat in the PBA Commissioner’s Finals, eliminating Ginebra in three games. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–San Miguel kept it together down the stretch on Sunday night to weather Barangay Ginebra, 94-91, and claim the first finals berth in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Import Bennie Boatwright Jr. was big once again for the Beermen, finishing with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks—including the one that sealed the three-game sweep of the erstwhile defending champions at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Video: Jericho Cruz, coach Jorge Gallent after entering PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals

PBA semis Game 3: Ginebra Gin Kings vs San Miguel Beermen

Barroca rues Magnolia’s ‘wake up loss’ to Phoenix in PBA semis

Mark Barocca and the Magnolia Hotshots in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Phoenix didn’t beat Magnolia. Magnolia beat Magnolia.

That was the mindset that Mark Barroca had upon leaving the Mall of Asia Arena with after the Hotshots’ 103-85 loss at the hands of the Fuel Masters on Sunday.

With a PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals ticket on the line, Magnolia failed to close out Phoenix which extended the best-of-five series to a fourth game, much to the dismay of Barroca.

Not ready to go home yet, RJ Jazul heats up at the right time for Phoenix

Phoenix Fuel Masters’ RJ Jazul in the PBA semifinals series against Magnolia Hotshots. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—RJ Jazul heated up at the right moment to keep Phoenix alive in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals at Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.

After scoring just three points in the opening half where the Fuel Masters trailed big, 51-38, Jazul woke up in the latter part of the game to remind the PBA spectators why he’s the captain of Phoenix.

The sweet shooter finished with 17 points built on five triples to give the Fuel Masters another day to live for Game 4 after their 103-85 win over Magnolia.

Phoenix rallies to beat Magnolia, avoid sweep in PBA semis

Phoenix Fuel Masters’ Jayvee Mocon and Johnathan Williams in the PBA semifinals series against Magnolia Hotshots. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Phoenix Super LPG used a blistering second half on Sunday to hack out a 103-85 win over top-ranked Magnolia in Game 3 and fan the flames of their PBA Commissioner’s Cup campaign.

Six Fuel Masters delivered at least 13 points to come back from 21 points down and log their first victory after dropping the first two games of this best-of-five semifinal series.

Video: Phoenix Fuel Masters’ Kenneth Tuffin

Video: Phoenix coach Jamike Jarin and RJ Jazul

PBA semis Game 3: Phoenix Fuel Masters vs Magnolia Hotshots

Magnolia goes for sweep of Phoenix for first PBA Finals slot

Tyler Bay (with ball) will help provide the spark in the Hotshots’ bid to shut-out the Fuel Masters. —MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Magnolia feels the manner of how it won the first two games of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals is no reason for the Hotshots to feel that sweeping Phoenix is going to be moot and academic.

“I think we will see a different Phoenix team this time,” Paul Lee said after the Hotshots moved on the cusp of a Finals berth after recovering in the final frame to pull out an 82-78 win on Friday at SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Their bid to put away the Fuel Masters starts at 3 p.m. on Sunday at the same venue as they aim to get back to the big league’s grandest stage for the first time since the 2021 Philippine Cup.

PBA: San Miguel not about to take Ginebra lightly

Chris Ross ) and the rest of the Beermen guard against complacency. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ

San Miguel reached for the door of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship series on Friday night following its 106-96 dismantling of Barangay Ginebra in Game 2 of the semifinals.

The Beermen will have a chance to turn the knob this Sunday, but skipper Chris Ross has been playing the game long enough to know that doing so is easier said than done.

“We know firsthand how it is to be on that side,” he told the Inquirer while shaking his head.

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