CORPORATE CIVIL WARS: Sister teams Kings, Beermen, Bolts, Tropa open semis duels

Games today:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

5:15 p.m. — Meralco vs TNT

7:30 p.m. — Ginebra vs San Miguel

There’s no secret to the determination and capability of sister teams defending champion San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra.

So, expect nothing but fireworks when they go after each other’s throats to set the tone in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals series opener today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The second straight serving of an all-Filipino Conference Final Four clash is set at 7:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, another sibling rivalry is featured in the other semis pairing between TNT and Meralco at 5:15 p.m.

Still, much attention is drawn to the Beermen-Kings showdown following an epic battle last season.

San Miguel prevailed over Ginebra in the previous series that went the full distance.

The Kings this time are out for payback and will be banking on the momentum they built in advancing to an eighth straight semis stint.

Ginebra won seven straight games, including an amazing sweep of twice-to-beat Converge in the quarterfinals, capped by Stephen Holt’s game-winning triple at the buzzer for a 99-98 win in the rubber match last week.

“Not much to think about them right now, we know who they are, we know that, I mean, we know them, they know us, and we took them to seven games last time,” Ginebra head coach Tim Cone said.   

“We’ll see if we can flip the script. That’s what we’re going to try to do — flip the script this time around. But we know they’re tough.”

Ginebra will need all hands on deck to pull an upset over the leading Best Player of the Conference June Mar Fajardo and San Miguel.

But it will be a tall undertaking considering the Beermen are on a hot 10-game roll after a 0-2 start.

Top-seeded San Miguel booted out No. 8 NLEX, 101-94, on Christmas Day to advance to a fifth straight Philippine Cup semis and second in a row appearance in the penultimate stage.

The Beermen also had the Kings’ numbers after defeating them, 83-81, in their Dubai meeting in the elims last 26 October.

But head coach Leo Austria remains wary of Ginebra and its never-say-die spirit.

“They have a formidable lineup and they are capable of winning a championship,” he said.

“We have to work hard and prepare hard for the coming semifinals.”

On the other hand, this will be the first time the Tropang 5G and the Bolts will meet in the semis since TNT prevailed in the 2022-2023 Governors’ Cup.

The Tropang 5G made quick work of Magnolia, 118-109, for a fourth semis dance in a row.

Despite brimming with confidence following a four-game win streak, TNT mentor Chot Reyes knows the Bolts are hungry for redemption after losing the crown last year.

“It’s going to take our best to be able to compete,” said Reyes, who will rely on Calvin Oftana, RR Pogoy, Jordan Heading, Rey Nambatac and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.

Meralco needed to survive two do-or-die games over Rain or Shine in the quarters for a return in the semis since winning a breakthrough Philippine Cup crown in 2024.