LIVE: PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Semifinals Game 3
- Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel look to take the lead while TNT shoots for a commanding advantage over Meralco in their respective best-of-seven PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series on Friday.
SCHEDULE: PBA Philippine Cup Semifinals Game 3
January 9, Friday – Smart Araneta Coliseum
- 5:15 p.m. – Meralco Bolts vs TNT Tropang 5G
- 7:30 p.m. – Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings vs San Miguel Beermen
PBA: June Mar Fajardo shrugs off shoulder issues, needs rest
San Miguel Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo during Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals vs Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—San Miguel star June Mar Fajardo revealed on Friday at Araneta Coliseum that he has been dealing with shoulder issues in recent games.
After the Beermen’s 91-85 win over Barangay Ginebra in Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals, Fajardo admitted he has been feeling pain in both shoulders.
The six-time MVP, however, downplayed any serious concern, saying rest—not surgery or rehab—should be enough.
“It’s okay, it just needs some rest. They [shoulders] just got pulled a while back but it’s part of the game,” Fajardo said in Filipino.
“I don’t have to worry because this is the semifinals. We have to win. This has been hurting since Game 1 but I’ve been feeling something since the NLEX series but it’s nothing. I can take it,” he explained further.
WATCH: June Mar Fajardo bares having sore shoulders after Game 3 of the #PBA50 PH Cup semis. | @MeloFuertesINQ
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— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) January 9, 2026
PBA: Don Trollano, San Miguel turn back Ginebra for 2-1 semis lead
San Miguel Beermen’s Don Trollano during Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals vs Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—San Miguel Beer had to endure an off night from June Mar Fajardo in Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals against Barangay Ginebra.
Fortunately for the Beermen, Don Trollano stepped up to the plate in the squad’s 91-85 win over the Gin Kings to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
“Coming into this game, I just wanted to play my game, be aggressive and if I’m open, shoot it,” Trollano said at Araneta Coliseum on Friday night.
“Actually, it’s been really hard and we’re extremely tired after this. I also have to give credit to Ginebra because June Mar had a hard time. Fortunately, every one of us played great.”
San Miguel’s Don Trollano and coach Leo Austria after taking a 2-1 lead over Ginebra in the semis. #PBA50 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/LEkajysCRM
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) January 9, 2026
LIVE UPDATES: Ginebra vs San Miguel – PBA Philippine Cup semifinals Game 3
- FINAL: San Miguel takes its first lead in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals with a 91-85 win over Ginebra in Game 3.
- Don Trollano with a strong finish, and one! San Miguel leads 90-83, 2:38.
- RJ Abarrientos with a floater. Ginebra just down 87-83, 2:49 to play.
- Back to back 3s for Ginebra! Only down 87-81.
- San Miguel holding on to an 85-75 advantage, 5 minutes to play.
- Ginebra with a run here, cutting the lead down to 78-71.
- June Mar Fajardo scores only his second point of the game. San Miguel up, 76-65.
- END OF THIRD: San Miguel 74, Ginebra 63.
- 4-0 run breathes life into Ginebra here in the third. Gin Kings down 73-60.
- The Beermen have opened up a big 70-52 advantage here in the third.
- Troy Rosario ends Ginebra drought with a two. Gin Kings down 65-52, 4:30 third quarter.
- 16-0 run for the Beermen.
- Quick four-point swing for San Miguel pushes the lead to 65-50. 5:36, third quarter.
- San Miguel’s lead quickly balloons to 61-50, with 6:11 in the third.
- Quick turnaround for the Beermen, who get back a seven-point lead 57-50.
- Don Trollano 3! San Miguel retakes the lead, 52-50.
- Jeremiah Gray for 3! Ginebra takes the lead, 50-49, 9:11 in the third quarter.
- Japeth Aguilar off the glass. Ginebra only down by 2, 49-47.
- Third quarter underway. San Miguel with a slim 49-45 lead over Ginebra.
- HALFTIME: San Miguel 47, Ginebra 41.
- Scottie Thompson with two freethrows. Ginebra only down by six, 47-41.
- Scottie Thompson for 3 helps Ginebra trim San Miguel lead, 47-39.
- Mo Tautuaa finishes with a spin. Lead back to double digits, 45-34, for San Miguel.
- Beermen push their lead to 40-27 midway through the second quarter.
- San Miguel with a 26-21 advantage of Ginebra at the end of the first quarter.
PBA: Chris Newsome to undergo MRI after knee injury in Game 3
Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome on the floor after suffering a knee injury in Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals against TNT Tropang 5G. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Meralco guard Chris Newsome will undergo an MRI after a scary mishap in Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.
During the Bolts’ 97-89 win over TNT at Araneta Coliseum on Friday, Newsome had to be carried off the court following a collision with teammate Chris Banchero in the fourth quarter.
“We’re going to find out. I’ll be on my way to the hospital to get an MRI exam tonight. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious but I’m just happy that the team won tonight,” Newsome said.
“Rey was driving with CB guarding him. He got bumped off and flew into my knee. It’s an unfortunate situation but it’s one of those breaks of the game which is out of my control,” he added.
PBA: Meralco takes Game 3, cuts TNT series lead in semifinals
CJ Cansino and the Meralco Bolts during Game 3 of the PBA Season 50 semifinals against TNT Tropang 5G. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—It was supposed to be a festive night for TNT on Friday before Meralco played spoiler in Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.
The Bolts outlasted the Tropang 5G, 97-89, at Smart Araneta Coliseum on the day of TNT legend Ranidel De Ocampo’s jersey retirement.
At halftime, the TNT officially raised De Ocampo’s jersey to the rafters to commemorate his storied career with the franchise.
Meralco, however, knew it had to silence the celebratory crowd to secure its first win in the best-of-seven semifinal series.
“TNT is a really tough team. They’ve been manhandling us for the past two games so we all had to come together,” coach Luigi Trillo said. “It was really hard so we just held down the fort. It’s finally nice to get a win against them.”
‘HE’S PART OF OUR FAMILY TOO’ ⚡️
Meralco coach Luigi Trillo pays tribute to Ranidel de Ocampo, who had his TNT jersey retired earlier.
De Ocampo played his final PBA season with the Bolts in 2019. #PBA50 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/B6DUt5FRVu
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) January 9, 2026
Meralco’s Chris Banchero and coach Luigi Trillo after winning Game 3 vs. TNT. #PBA50 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/zVUd0xFIwS
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) January 9, 2026
LIVE UPDATES: Meralco vs TNT – PBA Philippine Cup semifinals Game 3
- FINAL: Meralco takes Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals, beating TNT, 97-89. Tropang 5G, however, still lead the series, 2-1.
- Meralco holding on to a 96-88 lead with under a minute to play.
Bodies everywhere, now Nambatac is helped off the floor.
1:39 to go with Meralco up, 89-81. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/f2GaanrmON
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) January 9, 2026
Scary sight for Meralco as Chris Newsome holds on to his knee at the 2:01 mark of the fourth quarter following an offensive foul from Rey Nambatac.
Bolts lead, though, 88-81. #PBA50 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/ViaXUxlb8O
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) January 9, 2026
- Big 3 by Roger Pogoy keeps TNT within striking distance, 86-79, 4 minutes left.
- CJ Cansino with a bucket. Meralco pushes lead to 86-74, 5 minutes left.
- Chris Banchero with a finger roll. Meralco up 82-74.
- CJ Cansino for 3! Meralco lead back to double digits, 79-69.
- Pogoy with a tough baseline jumper. TNT still down 76-69.
- CJ Cansino gives Meralco a 72-63 buffer to start the payoff period.
- TNT has cut down Meralco’s lead to 66-61, 2:20 in the third quarter.
- Meralco still leads by double digit, 63-53, with under 5 minutes in the third quarter.
FOREVER 33!
RDO lifts up his historic Tropang Texters jersey. #PBA50 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/moynVSNhEV
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) January 9, 2026
Ranidel de Ocampo’s jersey retirement ceremony now underway @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/bhPfFTMITD
— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) January 9, 2026
The iconic #33 jersey. What was YOUR favorite RDO moment? #PBA50 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/gpGmzp8xBz
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) January 9, 2026
LOOK: Ranidel De Ocampo just moments away from having his Talk N’ Text jersey retired. #PBA50 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/jK2NzH5BKB
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) January 9, 2026
- Meralco with a 47-38 halftime lead over TNT in Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals. TNT leads the best-of-seven affair, 2-0.
- Meralco holding on to a 40-30 lead with 3:33 left in the first half.
- Bolts lead balloons to 34-21 midway through the second period.
- Meralco, looking to get its first win in the series, leads TNT 26-15 early in the second quarter.
PBA: RJ Abarrientos pays no heed to ‘flopper’ socmed tag
RJ Abarrientos: It doesn’t bother me. —MARLO CUETO
Barangay Ginebra guard RJ Abarrientos is hearing the noise but isn’t letting it affect him.
Abarrientos has became the brunt of social media memes for the way he plays, branded by netizens as a “flopper” after the Gin Kings’ quarterfinal win over Converge.
When asked if it has affected him, the Far Eastern product simply shrugged it off.
“Wala. It doesn’t bother me. It’s just part of the game,” Abarrientos told the Inquirer.
Abarrientos on Wednesday played like no comment bugged his mind at all, finishing with 18 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.
PBA: Beermen make it a best-of-five after bench steps up
San Miguel Beermen’s Don Trollano during Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals against Ginebra Gin Kings. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Jeron Teng’s unlikely starring role in San Miguel Beer’s 93-84 victory over Barangay Ginebra that tied their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series at 1-1 typified the huge role the Beermen’s bench played on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Teng had 13 points, five rebounds and four assists in 15 minutes, providing energy on both ends of the floor, to help lead San Miguel’s bounce-back effort following a 99-90 defeat that opened their best-of-seven affair three nights earlier.
“My mentality is to just be ready whenever my number is called,” Teng said after failing to suit up in Game 1 that left coach Leo Austria expressing “guilt” for his lack of foresight.
PBA: Chris Newsome plays through dislocated finger in Meralco loss
Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome during a game against TNT Tropang 5G in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Meralco swingman Chris Newsome didn’t end Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals at a hundred percent.
Newsome revealed that he had dislocated his left pinky finger, which effectively kept him out of action for the majority of the first half, in the Bolts’ 109-92 loss to the Tropang 5G Wednesday.
“I dislocated my left pinky. It was a clean dislocation. Our team physician popped it back in place and taped it up so I still went out there to play,” Newsome said.
“It’s unfortunate to sustain an injury like that but I’m the type of player who, if I can still run and shoot, I’ll do what I can.”
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