LIVE UPDATES: PBA Commissioner’s Cup semis January 26

Mall of Asia Arena

4 p.m. San Miguel Beermen vs Ginebra Gin Kings
8 p.m. Magnolia Hotshots vs Phoenix Fuel Masters

Magnolia team and import Tyler Bey celebrate after Paul Lee’s clutch three in Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net

In a neck-and-neck showdown against Phoenix in Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals, Magnolia turned to none other than Paul Lee to bail them out of danger.

It was no surprise that Lee, who has a long list of clutch shots to his name, nailed the three-point bomb to keep the pesky Fuel Masters at bay, 81-76, with 55.4 seconds left in the game.

Magnolia import Tyler Bey, who finished with a double-double of 25 points and 12 rebounds, needed not to look at the result of the veteran guard’s clutch shot.

PBA Paul Lee Magnolia Phoenix PBA semis

Paul Lee’s clutch three lifts Magnolia past Phoenix in Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net

Magnolia kept it together in crunch time against Phoenix Super LPG to pull out an 82-78 win on Friday night and seize a 2-0 lead in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-five semifinal race.

Silent for most of the game, Paul Lee nailed a triple from near the Mall of Asia Arena’s halfcourt logo to give the Hotshots a five-point edge that eventually proved to be too big to overcome for the Fuel Masters, who are a loss away from elimination.

Watch: Paul Lee’s clutch three-pointer in Magnolia’s Game 2 win

PBA semis Game 2: Magnolia Hotshots vs Phoenix Fuel Masters

PBA Ginebra San Miguel PBA semis Maverick Ahanamisi

Maverick Ahanamisi and the Ginebra Gin Kings in Game 2 of the PBA Commissioners’ Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Ginebra is keeping a positive outlook on the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinal series against San Miguel despite virtually being a loss away from elimination.

The Gin Kings succumbed to the Beermen, 106-96, on Friday to go down 0-2 in the best-of-five series that puts them on the brink of failure to defend their crown.

But Mav Ahanmisi thinks the pressure is on San Miguel to eliminate them before they can make a comeback rally in the series.

PBA semis San Miguel Ginebra Jorge Gallent

San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent in Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent has a chance to reverse the fate he was dealt with in the previous conference.

In the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup, the Beermen were swept and dealt with by Ginebra in the semifinals after three games.

Now, after San Miguel’s 106-96 win over the Gin Kings in Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals, Gallent is in prime position to take revenge for the heartbreak of yesteryear dealt by Tim Cone.

Video: San Miguel on the way to dugout after 2-0 lead in PBA semis

VIDEO: San Miguel’s Marcio Lassiter and coach Jorge Gallent

PBA semis San Miguel Ginebra Bennie Boatwright

San Miguel Beermen Bennie Boatwright leads his team to the PBA semifinals Game 2 win. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Using its depth once again, San Miguel on Friday night whipped defending champion Barangay Ginebra, 106-96, in Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Bennie Boatwright Jr. topscored the Beermen with 36 points built on six triples, CJ Perez and June Mar Fajardo finished with 17 each as veteran marksman Marcio Lassiter added 16 in the triumph had the powerhouse club moving at the brink of a Finals appearance.

PBA semis Game 2: San Miguel Beermen vs Ginebra Gin Kings

San Miguel Beermen PBA semis Game 1 Ginebra

San Miguel Beermen’s CJ Perez in Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

CJ Perez’s performance for San Miguel Beer in Game 1 of its PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinal series with Barangay Ginebra was evident that the Beermen are not just a team that would rely on the twin front-line combo of import Bennie Boatwright and June Mar Fajardo to win.

“Well CJ is CJ,” said Beermen coach Jorge Gallent, who saw Perez produce a conference-high 26 points along with key plays apart from scoring in the 92-90 win that put them up one game in the best-of-five series.

“When we needed the rebound, when we needed the steal and when we needed offense, he was there. I’m very happy that he played very well in the dying minutes,” added Gallent as San Miguel tries to repeat over Ginebra in Friday’s Game 2 at Mall of Asia Arena.

Tyler Bey Magnolia Hotshots PBA semis

Magnolia import Tyler Bey hangs on to the rim against Phoenix in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Magnolia’s Tyler Bey flashed his talents and athleticism on Wednesday to power Magnolia to a 1-0 lead over Phoenix in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Araneta Coliseum.

But those weren’t the only things he flashed in the spotlight.

Bey registered a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds and he did it all in the Nike Kobe 6 Protro’s in the “Reverse Grinch” colorway.

San Miguel Beermen PBA semis Game 1 Ginebra

San Miguel Beermen’s CJ Perez in Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

San Miguel’s CJ Perez shrugged off Ginebra’s physicality to help the Beermen gain an early upper hand in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.

Perez’s toughness and grit in the paint resulted in a conference-high 26-point performance with five rebounds and three assists to give San Miguel the 1-0 lead over the Gin Kings.



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