The PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals are set, with the Grand Slam-seeking TNT once again taking on Rain or Shine, and Ginebra battling San Miguel in a titanic best-of-7 series.
The semifinal cast is set in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup, with four teams left standing—including one chasing a place in history.
No. 1 San Miguel Beermen vs. no. 4 Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel
A battle of tradition and pedigree headlines the Final Four as the top-seeded San Miguel Beermen face Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel in a high-stakes all-SMC clash.
The Beermen, winners of the 2022 Philippine Cup, are gunning for their record extending 11th All-Filipino crown and arrive in strong form after eliminating defending champion Meralco in the quarterfinals.
That victory not only avenged San Miguel’s Season 48 Finals loss to the Bolts—it also ensured that the league will crown a new Philippine Cup champion for a fifth straight edition.
Ginebra, for its part, is back in the semis after dispatching Converge in the quarterfinals.
The Gin Kings last won the Philippine Cup in 2020 during the Clark bubble, and are looking to break through after falling short in the Finals of both the Commissioner’s and Governors’ Cups earlier this season.
Interestingly, both Ginebra and San Miguel were ousted by Meralco in last year’s playoffs, adding another layer to their already storied rivalry as both teams look to close some unfinished business.
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No. 6 TNT Tropang 5G vs. no. 7 Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
In the other bracket, two familiar foes square off yet again.
TNT Tropang 5G and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters meet in the playoffs for the fourth straight conference, with TNT holding the edge in recent history.
The Tropang 5G won the last two matchups—both in the semifinals—while Rain or Shine’s most recent win came in their quarterfinal clash during last year’s Philippine Cup.
This time, stakes are even higher as TNT continues its pursuit of a Grand Slam, having already captured the Commissioner’s and Governors’ Cups this season.
Rain or Shine, a gritty squad with a knack for rising in the postseason, looks to spoil TNT’s historic bid and return to the Finals for the first time since the franchise’s last title in 2016.
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]