Photo Courtesy: PBA Images
Juan Karlo Libunao (JKL)
SMB escapes Converge late game rally to win Game 1
San Miguel took Game 1 of their best-of-five quarter finals series against Converge FiberXers, 102-95 on Thursday night, September 26, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Beermen new import EJ Asonike, in lieu of the injured Jordan Adams, showed a decent debut performance by producing 28 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists.
"He has this physicality inside, and he grabs boards. He likes to power inside and that's good in getting our shooters open," described by SMB’s coach Jorge Gallent of their new reinforcement.
June Mar Fajardo also delivered well with his double-double production, tallying 25 markers and 16 boards. He also swatted three shots.
"According to coach (Gallent), the Game 1 of the series is important, we need to get it,” said the eight-time MVP in Filipino.
Kris Rosales also contributed well by sizzling hot in the third quarter producing 11 points, while CJ Perez added the same number of points.
SMB started the game well posting a 30-23 lead in the first quarter but Converge fought back in the second canto and even led 50-49 late in the first half, though it was cut short as the Berrmen took the lead again and had a 55-50 halftime advantage.
In the third period, San Miguel played well again and finished the quarter with 85-72 win, and in the final quarter of play, the Beermen erected a 16-point lead - the largest of the game with 3:44 left in the game.
But the FiberXers fought back from the 97-91 disadvantage to make the game close and made it a 99-95 count of JL Delos Santos three-pointer.
Converge even had a chance to tie with a four-point shot, but Delos Santos committed an errant pass to Schonny Winston during one of the final plays of the game.
That was the turning point of the game that gave the 29-time PBA champion team San Miguel the upper hand and recorded a 102-95 victory.
“In the end game, it was just composure,” said Gallent. “We just wanted to close the game really quick. We should have just held the ball a bit longer. We made quite a few mistakes coming into the end that’s why the lead went down.”
Jalen Jones, who tasted his first loss of the season, led the FiberXers with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
The Converge import was complemented by Justin Arana’s 20 markers, Winston’s 17, and King Caralipio‘s 10.
Game 2 of the series will be on Saturday, September 28, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Photo Courtesy: PBA Images
The Scores:
SAN MIGUEL 102 - Anosike 28, Fajardo 25, Perez 11, Rosales 11, Trollano 6, Cruz 6, Romeo 4, Ross 4, Lassiter 3, Enciso 3, Brondial 1.
CONVERGE 95 - Jones 22, Arana 20, Winston 17, Caralipio 10, Delos Santos 7, Stockton 5, Ambohot 5, Cabagnot 3, Andrade 3, Santos 3, Nieto 0.
QUARTERS : 30-23, 55-50, 85-72, 102-95.
News
Jamie Malonzo is heading back to Japan after signing with Earthfriends Tokyo Z for the 2026-27 season, the team announced in an Instagram post.
"Earth Friends Tokyo Z would like to inform you that we have reached a basic agreement with Jamie Malonzo for the 2026-2027 season," the club wrote.
Malonzo left Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in 2025 to pursue a professional basketball career abroad and signed with Kyoto Hannaryz last season. However, he was later waived by the team.
He played only five games in the organization before being released, averaging 1.5 points and 1.2 rebounds per game during his stint.
Dwight Ramos has agreed to a basic contract with the Levanga Hokkaido for the 2026-2027 season, the team announced on Instagram.
He averaged 12.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game during the previous season.
Ramos has been with the organization since 2022 after his rookie year contract with the Toyama Grouses expired.
Filipino-American NBA player Jordan Clarkson has re-signed with the defending champion New York Knicks on a one-year, $3.9 million contract.
Clarkson averaged 10.8 minutes per game during the Knicks' championship run. His role as a scoring spark off the bench helped ease the workload of the team's starters and provided valuable depth throughout the 2025-2026 NBA season.
His impact and influence played a crucial part in helping New York contend for and ultimately win the championship during the previous season.
The Knicks captured the 2026 NBA title against the San Antonio Spurs, ending a championship drought that lasted nearly half a century.
He also posted on his Instagram account following his extension with the Knicks.
"still in this dream, NY! run it back! love ," he wrote.
John Amores is returning to professional basketball after signing a one-conference contract with the Titan Ultra Giant Risers.
Titan welcomed him through a Facebook post, announcing his comeback representing the team.
"A NEW CHAPTER STARTS NOW. Welcome back to the PBA, John Amores. Welcome to the Titan Ultra Giant Risers family. Let’s get to work," they wrote.
Before his professional basketball license was revoked, Amores averaged 5.1 points and 1.6 rebounds per game for the NorthPort Batang Pier during the 2024-2025 PBA season.
John and his brother were involved in a shooting incident in Laguna in September 2024, which led the suspension from the PBA, along with revoking his license by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
Earlier this week, he posted a video of himself at GAB, where he officially retrieved his license, and is now cleared to resume playing in professional leagues.
Ahead of his PBA comeback, Titan is set to face Terrafirma this Friday.
Alas Pilipinas Women's team shared photos on its Instagram account during training for the upcoming SEA V.League and the Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games.
Taka Minowa, a former head coach in the Premier Volleyball League with the Akari Chargers, will take over as the new head coach of the nat'l team after being recruited by the POC for his service.
The roster is composed of setters with captain Jia De Guzman, Marionne Angelique Alba, Maria Angelica Cayuna; liberos Justine Ylizeth Jazareno, Jennifer Nierva, Dawn Nicole Catindig, Shaira Jardio.
They will also be joined by outside hitters Mhicaela Belen, Vanessa Gandler, Ejiya Laure, Alleiah Jan Malaluan, Angel Anne Canino, Shaina Marie Nitura; as well as middle blockers Janette Panaga, Dell Palomata, Thea Gagate, Mereophe Sharma, Amie Provido, Nina Ytang.
Completing the line-up are opposite hitters Alyssa Solomon, Erika Santos, and Arah Panique.
Alas secured bronze in the 2025 SEA V.League after sweeping Indonesia 25-17, 25-17, 28-26. The team also qualified for the Asian Games due to its current FIVB rankings among asian teams, standing at No. 10.
SEA V.League will take place in Vietnam on July 31 to August 2, while the Asian Games will be held in Japan beginning September 19.
