It’s all tied up at 1-1 in this series after the San Miguel Beermen hit back hard at the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in Game 2. Will the Beermen sustain their newfound momentum? Or, will the Barangay recapture their top form and snatch the series lead back?
Catch this game live on Sunday, June 29, 2025 at 7:30 pm, Manila time.
San Miguel Beermen (1-1)
Projected Starting Five:
- Juami Tiongson
- Marcio Lassiter
- Don Trollano
- Rodney Brondial
- June Mar Fajardo
The Beermen made sure they won’t suffer a collapse in Game 2, as they got back at Ginebra in a 100-83 victory. Without June Mar Fajardo in the starting lineup, San Miguel got off to a big start in that contest, establishing an 11-point lead by the end of the opening period. Fajardo, who was a game-time decision with a calf issue, came off the bench and chipped in just two points with seven boards in just under 18 minutes of action.
Mo Tautuaa started in place of the eight-time PBA Most Valuable Player and provided a decent output of 10 points and 10 boards, but it was the smaller guys who cut Ginebra down to size. Marcio Lassiter flashed his vintage form with 16 points and four 3-pointers, while Don Trollano and Kris Rosales came up with 14 and 13 points off the bench, respectively. With more rest, Fajardo could be back to the starting unit this Sunday, but the Beermen could still keep a careful approach on the gentle giant’s usage, especially with San Miguel proving they can stretch out Ginebra’s defense effectively, even with just Tautuaa holding the fort in the middle.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (1-1)
Projected Starting Five:
- Scottie Thompson
- Stephen Holt
- Jamie Malonzo
- Troy Rosario
- Japeth Aguilar
Ginebra failed to capitalize on an under-100 percent Fajardo, as their usually stingy defense got repeatedly burned on the perimeter, with San Miguel draining 12 threes on a 44.4 percent success rate. The Barangay weren’t too shabby either from deep, as they went 13-for-33 from behind the arc, but they were inefficient inside it. Overall, Ginebra shot just 42.5 percent from the floor.
The trio of Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar and Jamie Malonzo combined for just 19 points on 8-for-20 shooting and eight turnovers. Stephen Holt’s 17 points were a silver lining for Ginebra, as he rebounded from a four-point outing in Game 1, but that ultimately did not matter with the other key Ginebra players sputtering around him. The good news for Ginebra is that it’s coached by one of the best in Tim Cone, who should have a plan ready for the Barangay in Game 3.
Picks
Spread: San Miguel (-1.5)
Over/Under: Over (183.5)
