Ginebra rediscovers its groove, San Miguel extends surge as SMC sister-teams take home wins 

For a pair of proud franchises used to setting the PBA’s tempo, Sunday night at the Ynares Center felt like a long-overdue reminder of who they are. Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer — both recently battered by inconsistency — came out swinging, reclaiming their swagger in contrasting yet equally emphatic fashion.

Ginebra’s wake-up call

After back-to-back heartbreaks, including a stinging loss in Dubai, Ginebra played like a team tired of second-guessing itself. The Gin Kings’ 104-74 rout of NLEX wasn’t just a win — it was a declaration.

From the opening tip, Japeth Aguilar set the tone, dominating on both ends en route to 25 points. Stephen Holt was electric early, dropping 10 of his 20 points in the first quarter as Ginebra blitzed to a 26-9 lead and never looked back.

“We needed this,” Holt seemed to convey through his relentless energy, as the Gin Kings rediscovered the flow that had been missing since the start of the season.

Their defense did the rest — limiting NLEX’s top guns, JB Bahio and Robert Bolick, to just 12 combined points. Ginebra’s 52% shooting was a night-and-day difference from the dismal 32% clip they endured overseas.

Scottie Thompson quietly orchestrated the tempo with 12 points and 11 assists, while Troy Rosario cleaned the glass with 11 rebounds. By the fourth quarter, the only question left was how wide the gap would get.

The victory lifted Ginebra to 2-3 — modest on paper, but a crucial step for a team that thrives on rhythm and confidence.

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Barangay Ginebra dominates; beats NLEX, 104-74!

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— PBA (@pbaconnect) November 2, 2025

San Miguel’s fourth-quarter fire

In the nightcap, it was San Miguel’s turn to prove that its old fire still burns bright.

Juami Tiongson, silent through three quarters, erupted when it mattered most — scoring all 14 of his points in the final frame to propel the Beermen past a gritty Converge squad, 96-90.

Scoreless at halftime, Tiongson’s late-game heroics came just as Converge threatened to turn the game upside down. Down 76-75 early in the fourth, San Miguel steadied itself with a 12-5 surge before June Mar Fajardo delivered the dagger — a trademark post move that gave the Beermen a commanding 91-80 edge with four minutes left.

Fajardo was at his vintage best: 24 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks against Converge’s twin towers of Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar. CJ Perez added 13 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, as San Miguel improved to 3-2 — their first time above .500 after a shaky start.

The Beermen’s win also extended their streak to three straight, following their statement victory over Ginebra in Dubai. They’ll look to keep the momentum alive when they face Magnolia on November 7 in Montalban.

Converge and NLEX: reality checks

For NLEX and Converge, Sunday offered a different kind of lesson.

NLEX, once poised to seize solo leadership, saw its three-game streak snapped and dropped to 4-2. Converge, despite Deschon Winston’s 20 points and the efforts of Arana (19 points, 10 rebounds) and Baltazar (14 and 19), fell to 3-2 as Juan Gomez de Liano was held to just eight points on an off shooting night.

They’ll try to reset quickly, with the FiberXers taking on Blackwater on November 8, also at the Ynares Center.

If Sunday’s twin bill sent any message, it’s that the PBA’s titans aren’t going anywhere. Ginebra finally looked like Ginebra again — balanced, confident, and hungry — while San Miguel continues to regain the edge that made them the league’s gold standard for dominance.

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