Photo Courtesy: PBA
CJ Perez (SMB); Jordan Heading (TNT)
SMB ties series, TNT inches closer to the Philippine Cup Finals
San Miguel Beermen dominated Game 4 of their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals series against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 107-82, on Wednesday, June 2, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
CJ Perez led the charge for the Beermen, who unleashed a 17-0 run in the deciding period to secure the win and tie the series at 2-2. Perez finished with 19 points, five rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and a block in nearly 35 minutes of action.
He was followed by Juami Tiongson with 14 points and June Mar Fajardo, who added 12 markers, a game-high 19 boards, three assists, two steals, and a block to help San Miguel take the crucial victory.
Three other Beermen scored in double digits, with Jericho Cruz and Rodney Brondial contributing 12 points apiece, while Don Trollano added 11.
A crucial battle awaits on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, where both teams aim to take a pivotal 3-2 series lead and move closer to the Finals.
In the other semifinal series, the TNT Tropang 5G moved a step closer to the championship round, taking a commanding 3-1 lead after defeating the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 108-92, on the same night.
Jordan Heading delivered his best performance in a Tropang 5G uniform, tallying 23 points, five rebounds, six assists, one steal, and a block, along with an impressive +19 efficiency while on the floor.
He was backed by Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, who recorded another double-double with 22 markers and 11 boards, plus a rejection.
Calvin Oftana and Glenn Khobuntin chipped in 16 points each to help TNT gain a strong advantage and move closer to their dream of capturing the franchise’s first-ever grand slam.
They will now have the chance to book a Finals berth on Friday, July 4, at 5:00 PM at the Big Dome.
First Game Scores:
SAN MIGUEL 107 – Perez 19, Tiongson 14, Fajardo 12, Cruz 12, Brondial 12, Trollano 11, Teng 9, Lassiter 6, Ross 5, Rosales 3, Tautuaa 2, Calma 2, Cahilig 0.
GIENBRA 82 – Rosario 14, Malonzo 12, Thompson 11, J. Aguilar 10, Abarrientos 9, Ahanmisi 7, Holt 5, Pinto 4, Tenorio 4, R. Aguilar 4, Gray 2, Cu 0, David 0.
Quarter Scores: 24-26; 50-51; 80-63; 107-82.
Second Game Scores:
TNT 108 – Heading 23, Ganuelas-Rosser 22, Oftana 16, Khobuntin 16, Erram 16, Galinato 8, Erram 8, Aurin 7, Vosotros 6, Heruela 2, Williams 0, Nieto 0, Varilla 0, Enciso 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 92 – Norwood 18, Caracut 16, Tiongson 15, Nocum 12, Santillan 9, Datu 7, Mamuyac 7, Clarito 4, Asistio 2, Malonzo 2.
Quarter Scores: 22-28; 41-47; 80-69; 108-92.
News
The world’s top young gymnasts will gather in Manila from November 20 to 24 for the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships, to be held at the Manila Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City.
More than 75 countries will take part in the prestigious global event, showcasing the next generation of gymnastics stars competing for world titles and glory.
This marks the first time the Philippines is hosting the Junior World Championships — a milestone moment for the country’s gymnastics community. The event highlights not only the athletes’ talent, passion, and discipline, but also the growing presence of gymnastics in the Philippines and across Asia.
The competition is expected to deliver world-class performances as rising stars strive to make their mark on the international stage and inspire future generations of gymnasts.
The countdown to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games is on! Organizers officially unveiled the full competition schedule, setting the stage for a spectacular edition of the Games that promises to be both historic and inclusive.
The Opening Ceremony will take place on July 14, 2028, with the Closing Ceremony scheduled for July 30, marking 17 action-packed days of elite competition across 49 venues. A record 11,200 athletes will compete in 51 sports, making LA28 the biggest Olympic Games in history.
One of the most exciting highlights? The women’s 100-meter dash will headline Day 1, signaling a bold step toward celebrating women’s excellence in sports. “We want to start the Games with a bang — showcasing the fastest women in the world,” said Shana Ferguson, LA28 chief of sport.
For the first time ever, the Olympics will feature an equal or greater number of women’s teams compared to men’s, with 50.5% of athletes being women — a groundbreaking milestone for gender equality on the world stage.
In another first, athletics will span the entire Games, integrating tradition with innovation. Meanwhile, fans can look forward to the highly anticipated “Super Saturday” on July 29, which will feature 26 finals across 23 sports, including basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, golf, football, tennis, and more — promising one of the most thrilling single days in Olympic history.
The LA28 Games also mark the return of baseball and softball, the long-awaited comeback of cricket after over a century, and the Olympic debuts of flag football and squash — further expanding the Olympic spirit to new audiences around the globe.
As the world prepares for this monumental celebration of athleticism and unity, LA28 stands as a beacon of innovation, diversity, and inclusion — a testament to how the Olympic movement continues to evolve with the times.
Nine-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo is auctioning off his first MVP trophy to help raise funds for typhoon relief efforts, after his home province of Cebu was severely affected by Typhoon “Tino.”
According to the Office of Civil Defense, 232 people have died, 112 are missing, and 512 were injured due to the storm’s devastation.
“Masakit makita na ang daming nawalan — bahay, hanapbuhay, at pamilya,” said Fajardo “Alam kong mahirap bumangon, pero tiwala lang tayo, pray lang tayo kay God. Magpo-provide naman si God para sa atin.”
Fajardo said he chose to auction his first MVP trophy — a symbol of his early sacrifices and hard work — because it holds special meaning both to him and to his fellow Cebuanos.
‘Yung trophy na ’yon, espesyal sa akin kasi years of hard work ’yon. Pero mas espesyal sa akin ang mga Cebuano,” he shared.
Fajardo won the MVP award in just his second season in the PBA — the first of his record-breaking nine MVP titles.
The East Asia Super League (EASL) has upheld Meralco’s 85-76 victory over the Taoyuan Pilots in their match held last Saturday in Ilagan, Isabela, even as the Bolts offered to replay the game in the spirit of sportsmanship.
Under EASL rules, each team may enlist two world imports, one naturalized player, and one Asian heritage recruit — but only three of them can be on the court at the same time. A misunderstanding of this rule led to Meralco fielding four imports simultaneously for a total of over 9 minutes. EASL records show Meralco outscored Taoyuan 22-15 during that stretch.
EASL CEO Henry Kerins stated the incident was unintentional and did not significantly impact the outcome. Both teams acknowledged the oversight, and Taoyuan accepted the result. EASL requested FIBA not to assign the same game commissioner to future matches to ensure stricter enforcement of the rule.
In addition, Meralco received penalties for other violations: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was fined $2,000 for skipping pre- and post-game interviews, while coach Nenad Vucinic was fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike gestures, with a warning of future suspension.
With the ruling, Meralco’s EASL record stands at 1-2. The Bolts next face the Macau Black Bears on Saturday at the Cebu Coliseum, with all ticket proceeds going to disaster relief for Cebu and nearby provinces.
The Black Bears, making their season debut, will be led by Damian Chong Qui, supported by Omar Peek Green, Torrance Watson, and Phoenix Shackelford.
In a show of unity and commitment, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), and the Office of the Chef de Mission (CDM) came together for a Coordination Meeting of the Task Force for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, set to take place in Thailand next year.
The meeting, attended by POC Secretary General Atty. Wharton R. Chan, PSC Executive Director Atty. Guillermo B. Iroy Jr., and Chef de Mission Dr. Jose Raul Canlas, underscored the country’s collective effort to ensure smooth preparation and strong representation in the regional meet.
According to the POC, the session aimed to strengthen coordination among key sports bodies and address logistical, administrative, and performance-related plans for the Filipino athletes bound for the 2025 SEA Games.
“This coordination is essential to ensure that our athletes get the support and structure they need to perform at their best,” said Dr. Canlas.
With a spirit of “Strength in Unity,” the collaboration signals a unified front for Team Philippines — as the nation’s top sports leaders rally behind the athletes set to bring pride and glory to the country in Thailand.
