Tim Cone blasts Barangay Ginebra’s bench after Game 2 loss to San Miguel

San Miguel Beermen mounted a furious second-half rally to take Game 2 of their best-of-seven Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup semifinal series, defeating long-time rivals Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 93–84, on Wednesday, January 7, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The victory allowed the Beermen to tie the series at 1–1 and regain momentum after dropping the opener.

Jeron Teng, a former University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) standout, emerged as the unexpected spark for San Miguel. Coming off the bench, Teng delivered 13 points—12 of which came in the pivotal fourth quarter—igniting a comeback that stunned the Ginebra crowd. Teng’s aggressiveness down the stretch proved critical as he attacked the rim, absorbed contact, and made timely baskets when San Miguel needed them most.

Don Trollano also rebounded from a quiet Game 1 performance, adding 12 key points and stabilizing the Beermen offense during crucial stretches. San Miguel’s improved bench production proved to be one of the biggest storylines of the night, flipping the script from the series opener.

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Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone did not mince words when discussing the defeat, expressing frustration over the dip in contributions from his second unit. In Game 1, Ginebra’s bench outscored San Miguel’s reserves 54–29 in their 99–90 victory. But in Game 2, the tables turned. San Miguel’s bench exploded for 44 points, while Ginebra managed only 37—an imbalance Cone pointed to as the decisive factor.

‘THEIR BENCH COMES OUT AND THE PLAY’

Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone discusses their loss to San Miguel in Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals, crediting the Beermen’s bench players for stepping up to tie the series at 1-1. | via Gillian Trinidad#PBA50 #PBA50LID pic.twitter.com/0HJgSu8UMX

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) January 7, 2026

“We didn’t do things well tonight. We have to figure it out and see if we can come out better,” Cone said during the postgame media availability. “Our bench did not play well tonight. Nobody from our bench played well tonight.”

Cone acknowledged the inconsistency that often comes with relying heavily on reserve players but remained hopeful that adjustments could be made.

“That’s kind of typical with benches and guys coming off it. They will be great one night and maybe not on the second night. Hopefully, we can come back and compete better in the third game,” he added.

The defeat highlighted areas of concern for Ginebra, particularly on defense and ball movement in the second half. The team struggled to contain San Miguel’s drives and allowed too many second-chance opportunities, while their own offense stagnated late in the game. 

Meanwhile, the Beermen will look to build on their improved execution and energy. With Teng stepping up and the bench firing, head coach Jorge Gallent now has added confidence in his team’s depth as the series intensifies.

With the semifinals now tied at 1–1, both squads head into Game 3 with renewed urgency. The crucial third meeting is scheduled for Friday, January 9, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, where momentum—and potentially the direction of the series—will be up for grabs.

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