MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel drew first blood in their PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series with a gritty 99-90 victory over defending champion San Miguel Beermen in Game 1 on January 4, 2026, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. While the headline rivalry lived up to the hype, it was Ginebra’s bench mob that provided the decisive lift, outscoring SMB’s reserves 54-29 and fueling key runs to snap the Beermen’s 10-game winning streak.
RJ Abarrientos led the charge with a game-high 23 points off the bench, while Ralph Cu (13 points, including crucial triples), Norbert Torres (8), and Troy Rosario (8) delivered timely buckets and energy. Starters Scottie Thompson (22 points) and Japeth Aguilar (7) held the fort, but the second unit’s dominance neutralized June Mar Fajardo’s monster 27 points and 23 rebounds.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone praised the reserves: “Our bench was the difference—they brought the energy when we needed it most.” The Gin Kings overcame a halftime deficit, clamping down defensively in the fourth to pull away.
This depth advantage gives Ginebra momentum heading into Game 2 (January 7), proving they can match SMB’s star power with relentless rotation.
Box Score Highlights (Ginebra 99 – SMB 90):
| Player (Ginebra) | Points | Key Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| RJ Abarrientos | 23 | Bench spark; game-high scoring |
| Scottie Thompson | 22 | All-around leadership |
| Ralph Cu | 13 | Clutch triples in rally |
| Jayson David | 10 | Solid support |