- San Miguel Beermen and Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings battle for one last time in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals for the chance to advance to the championship round.
July 9, Wednesday – Mall of Asia Arena
- 7:30pm – Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings vs San Miguel Beermen
San Miguel Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo during the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals Game 6 against Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone joked that he had mapped out an evil plot to let San Miguel Beer star June Mar Fajardo attend the first day of Gilas Pilipinas’ preparation for the Fiba Asia Cup and run him ragged before Game 7 of their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series.
“I tried to get him and insist that he come,” Cone said before smiling. “I [was] gonna make him do wind sprints. But coach Al [San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua] said ‘No.’ But my plan was to make him do wind sprints.”
Fajardo was excused from taking part in the session, which was reduced to a mixture of meet-up, film viewing and voluntary shooting drills, given his focus on bigger things as San Miguel and Ginebra meet one more time for the right to have a crack at denying TNT’s bid for a Grand Slam.
Ginebra forward Japeth Aguilar gets treatment on the bench during Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—One of the bigger things that Barangay Ginebra will keep an eye on for Game 7 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals is their starting big man Japeth Aguilar.
While San Miguel Beer star June Mar Fajardo is nearing full recovery from an injured calf, the Gin Kings are facing a similar problem with Aguilar’s fitness.
READ: PBA: LA Tenorio ‘felt like a rookie again’ after Game 6 heroics
After Ginebra forced a do-or-die game with the Beermen on Sunday, coach Tim Cone revealed that their all-star center is facing fatigue issues with the long conference.
Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ guard LA Tenorio reacts after nailing the game-winner that forced a Game 7 against San Miguel Beermen in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Barangay Ginebra guard LA Tenorio showed nerves of steel in an all-important Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals on Sunday.
Don’t get it twisted, though, as the grizzled veteran admitted he felt the immense pressure in a back-and-forth duel down the stretch against San Miguel as the Gin Kings were fighting to keep their season alive.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone and LA Tenorio after forcing a Game 7 vs. Beermen in the semis. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/1LdDfT97cg
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 6, 2025
“Honestly, I felt like a rookie again a while ago, shaking while going to the scorer’s table because you know, as a rookie, you want to make something happen. You want to help the team right away and have an impact,” said Tenorio.
TNT guard Jordan Heading celebrates with his teammates after hitting a big shot against Rain or Shine in Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.-MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Jordan Heading relished making the PBA Philippine Cup Finals just a month after making his debut for TNT.
Heading led the Tropang 5G’s march back to the all-Filipino championship after they knocked off the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Game 6 of the semifinals on Sunday night.
TNT’s Jordan Heading and coach Chot Reyes after marching to the #PBAFinals. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/SNaOPT5oKt
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 6, 2025
“I’m really, really fortunate to be in this situation, be with these guys and be able to be with them at this moment in time,” said Heading.
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
Read Next
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
For feedback, complaints, or inquiries, contact us.
