The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Philippine Cup quarterfinals reach a thrilling climax this Sunday, December 28, 2025, as the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings and Converge FiberXers battle in a do-or-die rubber match for a coveted semifinals spot.
Winner Takes All at the Big Dome
The decisive game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. This follows Ginebra's emphatic 105-85 victory on Christmas Day, which forced this winner-take-all contest. The fifth-seeded Gin Kings now look to carry that momentum forward, while the fourth-seeded FiberXers are determined to bounce back and secure what would be a historic franchise achievement.
Abarrientos' Heroics Force Decider
The series reached this point largely due to a spectacular performance from Ginebra's RJ Abarrientos. The guard erupted for 35 points, connecting on a sizzling 6-of-8 from three-point range. His clutch shooting fueled a second-quarter breakaway that led to the 20-point rout. Abarrientos added four assists, three rebounds, and two steals in under 30 minutes of play.
Ginebra head coach Tim Cone praised Abarrientos' explosion but was quick to frame the win as a collective effort. He specifically highlighted contributions from players like Scottie Thompson, calling the crucial victory a "complete team exercise."
Converge's Quest for a Semifinals Breakthrough
For the Converge FiberXers, the stakes could not be higher. The franchise has reached the PBA quarterfinals seven times but has never advanced to the semifinals. Coach Delta Pineda is urging his team to focus solely on the game, admonishing them to stop complaining about officiating or other external factors.
"Before naman sinabi ko sa mga bata na blessing na ibinigay sa atin itong twice to beat," Pineda said. "And hindi ibibigay sa atin ng maluwag ito (quarterfinals series), kailangan pa rin nating pag-trabahuhan." He acknowledged that player complaints and early foul trouble, which led to a third-quarter deficit and a fourth-quarter fade in their last outing, contributed to the loss. The challenge now is to adjust and match the intense physicality of playoff basketball.
All eyes will be on Quezon City this Sunday night as two proud teams leave everything on the hardwood. Ginebra aims to continue its dynasty run, while Converge fights to rewrite its history and secure a long-awaited ticket to the PBA Philippine Cup Last Four.
