Brgy. Ginebra def San Miguel, 122-105 [PBA S49 Govs’ Cup SF Game 1 | Oct. 9, 2024]

Sister teams San Miguel and Brgy. Ginebra clash in the highly anticipated opening game of their PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup best-of-seven semifinal series on Wednesday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

This exciting matchup between two of the league’s most successful franchises over the past decade tipped off at 5 p.m.

The evening will feature another captivating semifinal pairing, with TNT taking on Rain or Shine at 7:30 p.m.

During the elimination round, both teams enjoyed one victory each in their encounters.

Ginebra narrowly edged out San Miguel with a thrilling 108-102 win in their first meeting, where Justin Brownlee delivered a spectacular performance, scoring a career-high 51 points.

However, the Beermen responded emphatically in their second clash, delivering a statement 131-82 victory over the Gin Kings.

San Miguel relied on Jordan Adams as their import during both matchups, but the scenario has changed dramatically heading into the semifinals as the sharpshooter has been replaced by EJ Anosike due to a hamstring injury he sustained late in the elimination round.

Coach Jorge Gallent of San Miguel emphasizes that the semifinal series marks a fresh start, necessitating tactical adjustments from both sides.

The Beermen come into this series after a tough quarterfinal duel against a spirited Converge team, where they relied heavily on June Mar Fajardo’s remarkable performance of 40 points and 24 rebounds to secure a 109-105 victory in a decisive Game 5 on Sunday.

In contrast, Ginebra earned its semifinal berth a week ago by sweeping Meralco 3-0 in their quarterfinal series, showcasing their dominance and readiness for this next challenge.